The UTLA campaign season is upon us. In the coming months, you are going to hear people promise the most amazing things.
They will promise bigger raises, better health care benefits and yes, even an end to the district’s payroll debacle.
As you know, promises are easy to make but accomplishments can be taken to the bank. So, let’s talk about accomplishments and goals for the future.
In the past two years, with your help, we have gained 8 ½ percent raises and fully funded health benefits. For the first time ever we have gotten class size reduction and class size caps. Of critical importance is that through negotiations we were able to force the district to shift $200 million in categorical monies away from district boondoggle programs into further class size reduction. And we have beaten back the district’s demands for lesser health care benefits, forced lunchtime supervision and the district’s desire to assign teachers as they see fit.
Most important, is that we have created a fighting union- a union that has garnered new respect in the Los Angeles community. We have created strong ties with other unions and parent community groups that will serve us well in the future.
The choices will be clear; promises or accomplishments and a fighting president who listens to the membership. I am part of a progressive team that has dramatically changed the course of our union. We are rebuilding UTLA into a force that brings reform to LAUSD (Belmont Zone of Choice-the first Expanded School Based Management Model School/Woodland Hills Academy) while protecting members’ rights.
What we need now is a unified team to bring to fruition the dreams for local control of schools, where teachers are the center of decision making and in control of school budgets, hiring, professional development and curriculum. A unified team can continue to build the partnerships with other stake holders, which can lead to a drastic lessening of the power and authority of the district bureaucrats.
THAT UNIFIED TEAM IS UNITED ACTION. WE CAN AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
VOTE UNITED ACTION!
