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Person

Alex Caputo-Pearl

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

Labor Union Activist

Teacher

Former President, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA)

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Alex Caputo-Pearl is the former president, and current vice president, of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) union and a vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). He is an outspoken opponent of charter schools and other education reform measures.

Caputo-Pearl has always been seen as a more radical and militant teachers’ union leader. He was one of the leading members of the Progressive Educators for Action (PEAC) caucus within the UTLA.

He has a reputation for pushing teachers’ unions to champion other left-wing causes in addition their usual advocacy.

Policy Views

Caputo-Pearl is a loud critic of charter schools and other alternatives to the traditional unionized government-run school system. He condemned the 2010 film Waiting for Superman, which critiqued the traditional model. 9

In 2016, he reached out to his members and encouraged them to support a $19 monthly increase in member dues. He also became more confrontational with charter schools and the school district. The union also became more visible in the media and launched a member recruitment campaign at schools.The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/grading-waiting-superman/.

  • Caputo-Pearl, Alex, and Cathy Garcia. 2011. “Education Reform The Union Way”. Labornotes.Org. http://www.labornotes.org/2011/02/education-reform-union-way.
  • Goldstein, Dana. 2012. “Becoming Part Of The Solution”. Zócalo Public Square. http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2012/02/22/becoming-part-of-the-solution/ideas/nexus/.
  • Goldstein, Dana. 2013. “An Activist Teacher, A Struggling School, And The School Closure Movement: A Story From L.A.”. Dana Goldstein. http://www.danagoldstein.com/2013/05/activist-teachers-targeted-for-dismissal-in-la.html.
  • Ceronsky, James. 2012. “Teach For America’S Deep Bench”. The American Prospect. http://prospect.org/article/teach-america%E2%80%99s-deep-bench.
  • Cook, Joshua. 2009. “LA Teacher Cuts Prompt Walkouts, Arrests, Hunger Strike”. Labornotes.Org. http://labornotes.org/2009/07/la-teacher-cuts-prompt-walkouts-arrests-hunger-strike.
  • Scott, Norm. 2013. “Alex Caputo-Pearl Running For President Of LA Teachers Union”. Ednotesonline.Blogspot.Com. https://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2013/10/alex-caputo-pearl-running-for-president.html?m=1.
  • Morrison, Patt. 2014. “Should L.A. Schools Be Run Like Businesses? Here’s What New UTLA Chief Alex Caputo-Pearl Says”. Latimes.Com. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oe-morrison-caputo-pearl-20140908-column.html.
  • Blume, Howard. 2014. “L.A. Teachers Union Leader Caputo-Pearl Links Activism To Strike”. Latimes.Com. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-caputopearl-teachers-strike-20140713-story.html#.
  • Fensterwald, John. 2016. “Besieged Teachers Unions Reach Out To Their Members”. Edsource. https://edsource.org/2016/besieged-teachers-unions-reach-out-to-their-members/562515.
  • Clough, Craig. 2016. “UTLA President’S Aggressive 10-Point Plan For Upcoming Battles”. Laschoolreport.Com. http://laschoolreport.com/utla-presidents-aggressive-10-point-plan-for-upcoming-battles/.
  • Antonucci, Mike. 2016. “Commentary: LA Teachers Head Is Ready To Incite A ‘State Crisis’ If Union Demands Are Not Met”. Laschoolreport.Com. http://laschoolreport.com/commentary-la-teachers-head-is-ready-to-incite-a-state-crisis-if-union-demands-are-not-met/.
  • Blume, Howard. 2017. “Alex Caputo-Pearl Wins Second Term As L.A. Teachers Union President”. Latimes.Com. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-edu-teachers-union-election-results-20170227-story.html.
  • Shackford, Scott. 2017. “School Choice Advocates Take Control In Los Angeles”. Reason.Com. https://reason.com/blog/2017/05/19/school-choice-advocates-take-control-in.
  • Rodriguez, Sal. 2017. “Teachers Union Boss Learns Nothing From Election Loss: Sal Rodriguez”. Daily News. https://www.dailynews.com/2017/08/11/teachers-union-boss-learns-nothing-from-election-loss-sal-rodriguez/.
  • “UTLA Internal Election Results.” UTLA, February 28, 2020. https://www.utla.net/news/utla-internal-election-results.
  • “Solidarity With Black Lives Matter At School Week: Nationally Renowned Antiracist Activists, Artists, Academics, Authors, And Athletes Speak Out!”. 2018. I AM AN EDUCATOR. https://iamaneducator.com/2018/01/29/solidarity-with-black-lives-matter-at-school-week-nationally-renown-antiracist-activists-artists-academics-authors-and-athletes-speak-out/.
  • Stokes, Kyle. 2018. “LAUSD Teachers Just Took Their First Step Toward A Possible Strike”. Laist. http://www.laist.com/2018/07/02/lausd_teachers_just_took_their_first_step_toward_a_possible_strike.php.
  • Fensterwald, John, and David Washburn. 2018. “How Teacher Strikes In Other States Help California Unions Make Their Case”. Edsource. https://edsource.org/2018/how-teacher-strikes-in-other-states-help-california-unions-make-their-case/597352.
  • Sand, Larry. 2018. “The Janus Victory And Ongoing Whine Festival”. California Policy Center. https://californiapolicycenter.org/the-janus-victory-and-ongoing-whine-festival/.
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