In a landmark election, teachers in the Pembroke Pines charter schools in Florida voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to be represented by the Broward Teachers Union. About 300 teachers, guidance counselors and other professional staff work in the city-run charter system, which includes seven schools. The vote was 181-46 in favor of joining the BTU and the AFT.

The Pembroke Pines schools are the first charters in Florida to unionize. "This vote is historic," said BTU president and AFT vice president Pat Santeramo. "It shows that charter school teachers and staff recognize that unions must continue to be partners in Broward's educational system."

AFT president Edward J. McElroy said that the national union "believes all teachers deserve an opportunity to bargain collectively for fair salaries, benefits and greater input in making the charter schools of Pembroke Pines schools of excellence. This vote makes that possible."

Last summer, the BTU attempted to gain representation for the charter staff after more than half signed authorization cards, but the Pembroke Pines city commission insisted on an election. During the ensuing months, an anti-collective bargaining organization, the Professional Educators Network, got involved and campaigned against the BTU and the AFT. Without access to the schools, the BTU used a strategy focused on home visits, including visits by BTU activists who lived in the same communities as the charter teachers. The overwhelming yes vote showed the strength of the union's campaign, despite the anti-union messages and some efforts by the charter management to convince staff they didn't need a union.

"We really love our schools and believe that by forming a union, we will make them even better," said Grace Thomas, a Pembroke Pines third-grade teacher. "Our hope has always been that by negotiating a contract, we will be able to give all teachers a voice so our schools remain great not only today, but long into the future." Added fellow charter school teacher Khea Davis, "With a union, we will have greater access to high-quality professional development courses, the latest resources and a massive network of other education professionals."

The next steps for the union are to recruit members (an important priority in a right-to-work state) and to negotiate a first contract with the city of Pembroke Pines. After this success, the BTU is looking at organizing some of the other approximately 50 charters in Broward County.

The Florida educators join charter school teachers in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island who have chosen the AFT as their representative. In addition, the United Federation of Teachers in New York City runs two charter schools.