For Immediate Release

April 12, 2023

BASIS Tucson North Educators Vote to Unionize with American Federation of Teachers

PHOENIX— Educators at BASIS Tucson North Charter School voted by a 34-17 margin to unionize in a National Labor Relations Board election held today on the school’s campus. The vote ensures that teachers will have a voice in shaping school policy moving forward, and it signals a growing movement to unionize charter schools across the nation.

BASIS Tucson North (BTN) is the first charter school in Arizona to unionize. The teachers at BTN will be represented by the AFT-AZACTS; they join the nearly 12 percent of other charter schools in this country that have unionized. The AFT represents more than 240 charter schools in 15 states and the District of Columbia.

"It’s high time for Arizona charter schools to stop manipulating the right-to-work laws and taking advantage of our teachers, parents, and students. BASIS should be ashamed of their treatment of their teachers and eagerly welcome negotiating rights for their staff. Si se puede," said AFT-AZACTS President Ralph Quintana.

BTN educators will move to bargain a first contract with the school’s administration to ensure additional accountability, administrative transparency, and more resources and time to effectively identify and address student needs.

8^th grade algebra teacher Justine Sleator commented, "As a BASIS alumni and second-generation BASIS Teacher, I am so proud to be a part of this community of teachers. Our union will allow us to reprioritize the needs of our students. We will be able to protect new teachers from burnout and retain high-quality educators, as BASIS has been known for."

Duncan Hasman, 8^th-10^th grade Spanish teacher, said, "Teachers and Teaching Fellows at BASIS Tucson North are demanding their needs and students’ educations be prioritized. The entirety of the organizing committee and I are so proud of our fellow educators for making this momentous step a reality."

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In Solidarity,

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