By Wayne Johnson

UTLA President 1984-1990 & CTA President 1999-2003

These are tough times for educators: The schools are subjected to political pressures, the public doesn’t really know what schools need, and a bloated 6 billion dollar plus bureaucracy manhandles just about everything.

A strong, united UTLA is necessary; it must be a union powerful enough to deliver strong contracts with benefits that teachers deserve along with providing quality education for our kids.

That kind of strength comes from experienced, dedicated leadership. I have known A.J. Duffy for over 25 years, and I honor his integrity and dedication. I believe he is the right person to lead the united teachers in their struggles to strengthen the authority and professionalism of the only true experts on education, the teachers. President Duffy and the United Action Team are longtime activists—many date back to when I was UTLA president and then CTA president. I know them: they are skilled leaders with a fighting spirit that will deliver for our members and for the students of LAUSD.

The United Action Team can and will continue building a strong UTLA that will produce for teachers and students. I urge you to support them.

Vote for the entire city-wide United Action Team.