Flap Over UEA’s ‘Monopolistic’ Ways Fuels Utah Bill

An affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and a nonunion teachers’ group are waging a fight in the Utah legislature against what they say is the Utah Education Association’s “monopolistic” hold over schools that is keeping other groups from reaching out to potential members.

Legislation wending its way through the House and the Senate would make access to recruits easier.

The teachers’ groups recount instances in which they say they were either forced to play second fiddle to the 18,000-member National Education Association affiliate, by far the largest teachers’ union in the state, or denied access to new hires in UEA-dominated districts. Also, they say, they do not get a chance to represent their...