September 24, 2025 — Teachers in Clovis Unified School District are closer than ever to forming a union, a move that could reshape the district’s history of remaining non-unionized for more than six decades. With the recent disbandment of the Faculty Senate, the long-standing non-union teacher group, educators now face a choice between two organizations seeking to represent them.
The Association of Clovis Educators, backed by the California Teachers Association, has been campaigning to connect Clovis teachers with statewide resources, policy influence, and the protections of the national teachers’ network. On the other side, the Independent Clovis Unified Educators, supported by a labor law firm, is advocating for a strictly local model with reduced dues and an approach rooted in collaboration with district administration.
Whichever group succeeds will need support from more than half of the district’s roughly 2,100 teachers. If one group secures a majority of signatures, it can file for recognition. Should the other gather at least 30 percent, a district-wide election would be required. Without that challenge, recognition would be granted automatically to the first group to reach the majority threshold.
Clovis Unified is the largest school district in California without a union, but that status could soon change. If the independent group succeeds, it would immediately become the largest independent teachers union in the state, setting a precedent that other districts may look to follow.
The district’s history with union efforts has been shaped by decades of controversy, including state rulings that found administrators favored the now-disbanded Faculty Senate and discouraged union activity. For many teachers, the elimination of that group has removed a barrier that long stood in the way of formal representation.
The decision carries far-reaching consequences for Clovis Unified, its teachers, and potentially educators across California. With signatures still being collected, the district is now closer than ever to having organized representation for its teachers.