A teachers’ union is a labor union (an organized group of employees) that represents teachers or educators in contract negotiations (for salaries, tenure, paid time off, and other terms of employment) with schools or school districts. Teachers’ unions are said to engage in collective bargaining—bargaining or negotiating on behalf of all teachers—rather than individual teachers negotiating their own employment terms.

The rights of workers to form unions, strike, bargain collectively, and engage in other work-related activities are provided by the federal statute known as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (NLRA). The NLRA also prohibits unions from trying to force workers to join a union and prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who exercise their union rights.

The NLRA supersedes many state laws but it does not apply to employees in the public sector—including public school teachers. Some states have laws that prohibit collective bargaining for public employees (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia) and many states have laws that make it illegal for public employees to strike.

In Vermont, teachers' unions operate under state-specific statutes that govern public sector employees, as the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) does not apply to public school teachers. Vermont law allows for collective bargaining for public employees, including teachers. The Vermont Labor Relations Board is the body that oversees labor relations for state employees, including educators. Vermont statutes provide the framework for how teachers' unions can organize, negotiate contracts, and resolve disputes. Unlike some states that prohibit collective bargaining or strikes for public employees, Vermont supports these activities for its public school teachers. However, there are specific regulations and procedures that must be followed, and the Vermont Labor Relations Board plays a key role in ensuring that the collective bargaining process is conducted in accordance with state law. Teachers in Vermont are legally permitted to engage in collective bargaining through their unions for better salaries, benefits, and working conditions, and they are protected from employer retaliation when exercising their union rights.