Teachers need better public relations efforts if they want support

Along with the economic changes we have had, there have also been some major changes in attitudes. One area is how people think about unions. The teachers union in particular is losing a lot of support they used to have from parents.


It’s gotten so bad that someone needs to consider educating the teachers union on how to use public relations to promote their cause. In the past when teachers went up against school districts there were always parents and local citizens who appreciated their efforts and felt the job they did for children was important enough that the school district should recognize their contribution with increased salary and benefits.

There have been many article recently about school districts trying to negotiate contracts and the tide seems to have turned against teachers and the good will they had has disappeared. Many of the same parents who previously backed the teachers have had their own work issues. They have lost their jobs, taken pay cuts or now have to pay for their own benefits. So when teachers seem unwilling to compromise they are having trouble understanding.

The teachers don’t win much support either when they choose to work to contract. This means they don’t do extras like back to school night or write recommendations for high school seniors. In the past when this happened, parents put pressure on school districts to give teachers what they want so that life will get back to normal for their children.

Teachers unions can’t rely on previous strategies because times have changed. School districts are very clear that they have lost revenue and if more money is needed it is going to have to come from taxes. The local taxpayers feel they have nothing left to give and aren’t happy to be asked for additional contributions.

The unions need a crash course in public relations or need to learn how to use social media to help their efforts because at this point they are losing against the school district and more importantly they are disillusioning their students and losing parents support.