The Alliance proudly announces our endorsement of a full slate of city-wide officers for the 2008-2011 term:

A.J. Duffy for President
Jimmie Woods-Gray for NEA Vice-President
Joshua Pechthalt for AFT Vice-President
Julie Washington for Elementary Vice-President
Gregg Solkovits for Secondary Vice-President
David Goldberg for Treasurer
Betty Forrester for Secretary

United Action, a winning team! Join the campaign. You can help by contributing, endorsing and pledging to phone bank.

West Area on the Move
By Cecily Myart-Cruz
West Area Chair & Emerson Middle School

During the last two years West Area has been on the move. All but three school sites have an active chapter chair. Our area meetings have doubled in attendance and we definitely have lively debate. West Area is action oriented and has created quite a few new business items to send to the Board of Directors. We have cluster leaders that are staying in touch with the chapter chairs and lending their support. I am most proud of you, the members in West Area, for stepping up to the plate and becoming actively involved in the activities within the area and across the city. We joined forces with the other areas of UTLA on December 6th for the rally that shone the spotlight on the district waste and bureaucracy. West Area was well represented. Everywhere I looked, I saw more and more West Area members at the rally standing with their brothers and sisters from other areas across the city to send a clear message to the district. We have gotten rid of one principal from an elementary school and as a side note we are actively trying to rid this same principal from the school site she was sent to. The Directors and I visit District Three’s head quarters every month and take your issues and fight for what you ask us to bring to them. West Area has become a vibrant partner with other areas and has added our strength to help make strides in our recent contract negotiations. We have gotten 8 1/2% percent raises over the last two years and fully funded health benefits for two years. I believe this is a start. I know we are worth more. We will have a living contract that will ultimately call the leadership and the district to be continually at the table discussing member's concerns. There are taskforces that will specifically be discussing class-size and counselor issues. In addition, West Area has reached across the city to create relationships with other areas chairs and directors. Joint discussions on chapter chair training; professional development and organizing models have occurred and will continue to be a vital part of UTLA’s rebuilding effects. I am proud to be West Area Chair and a member of a team that strives to build a powerful union whose goal is not only to protect the rights of our members but to also change the face public education in Los Angeles.