Nat LaCour
Encyclopedia
Nat LaCour is an American
labor union
leader and teacher
. As of 2007, he is the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers
(AFT), and a member of the AFL-CIO
executive council.
Originally a school teacher with the New Orleans public schools, he became a labor union activist with the AFT. Becoming president of the AFT affiliate in the city, he engineered along with Bob Crowley, the Executive Director of the NEA affiliate in New Orleans, a merger with the National Education Association
local to form the United Teachers of New Orleans
(UTNO). In 1974, UTNO became the first teachers' union in the Deep South
to win a contract without the protection of a state public employee collective bargaining law.
LaCour was elected a vice president of the AFT, and in 1998 was elected to the newly formed position of executive vice president of the union. In 2004, LaCour was elected secretary-treasurer of the union after the retirement of AFT president Sandra Feldman
and the election of secretary-treasurer Edward J. McElroy
as president. The same year, he was elected to the executive council of the AFL-CIO.
LaCour is a founding member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
, and serves on the board of directors of the Albert Shanker Institute
, National Democratic Institute, the A. Philip Randolph Institute
and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
.
On February 11, 2008, LaCour announced he would retire as Secretary-Treasurer of the AFT at its regularly scheduled biennial convention in Chicago
in July 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. As of 2007, he is the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
(AFT), and a member of the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
executive council.
Originally a school teacher with the New Orleans public schools, he became a labor union activist with the AFT. Becoming president of the AFT affiliate in the city, he engineered along with Bob Crowley, the Executive Director of the NEA affiliate in New Orleans, a merger with the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
local to form the United Teachers of New Orleans
United Teachers of New Orleans
The United Teachers of New Orleans is a labor union representing teachers and other educational workers in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
(UTNO). In 1974, UTNO became the first teachers' union in the Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
to win a contract without the protection of a state public employee collective bargaining law.
LaCour was elected a vice president of the AFT, and in 1998 was elected to the newly formed position of executive vice president of the union. In 2004, LaCour was elected secretary-treasurer of the union after the retirement of AFT president Sandra Feldman
Sandra Feldman
Sandra Feldman was an American civil rights activist, educator and labor leader who served as president of the American Federation of Teachers from 1997 to 2004.-Early life:...
and the election of secretary-treasurer Edward J. McElroy
Edward J. McElroy
Edward J. McElroy, Jr. is an American teacher and labor union leader. He was president of the American Federation of Teachers from 2004 to 2008, and an AFL-CIO vice president from 2001 to 2008.-Early life and union career:...
as president. The same year, he was elected to the executive council of the AFL-CIO.
LaCour is a founding member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in education. Founded in 1987, NBPTS improves teaching and student learning by enhancing overall educator effectiveness and recognizing and rewarding highly...
, and serves on the board of directors of the Albert Shanker Institute
Albert Shanker Institute
The Albert Shanker Institute is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing democratic ideals, improving the quality of public education, and conducting research into the labor movement and the sociology of work...
, National Democratic Institute, the A. Philip Randolph Institute
A. Philip Randolph Institute
The A. Philip Randolph Institute is an organization for African American trade unionists.-History:Following passage of the Voting Rights Act, APRI was co-founded in 1965 by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin...
and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of African American trade union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO....
.
On February 11, 2008, LaCour announced he would retire as Secretary-Treasurer of the AFT at its regularly scheduled biennial convention in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in July 2008.