I know that the WTU has the capacity to be THE major political power in this District. As educators, we see firsthand the results that policies and decisions made by those in power have on our community. We are a bridge between policy makers and families and have the organizing power to stand up for ourselves, our schools and those we serve if we choose to harness it.
As teachers unions across the country have shown us, it is rank and file member voices that are the key to strengthening our union. No one person, no one President, no one leader can build a strong union. It takes all of us. That is why I am committed to continuing the work that we have begun with the DC Caucus of Rank and File Educators (DC-CORE) to organize and strengthen member power within the union. It isn't enough to elect a strong President, we need our members to be organized to hold our elected leaders accountable to us once they are in office.
I believe that the WTU Secretary position is a key position to continuing to foster and build democracy and member power in the WTU by providing transparency, accountability, responsiveness and fighting for member voice.
Here is what I have done and commit to continuing to do if reelected:
Attend every meeting, town hall, special event and almost all the WTU committees' meetings to provide clear notes and minutes for our members.
Take minutes that go above and beyond what is required and be ready to submit them within hours of each meeting.
Be responsive to members across all social media platforms and emails, providing any document that is asked for, usually within minutes.
Fight in the Board room for member voice and power, pushing back against the idea that the WTU Executive Board should control all the information, decision making and determining strategy.
Organize and show up alongside fellow members to champion the schools our communities deserve. From the streets to community meetings to DC State Board of Education, to the DC Council I will always be there to support our members.
With your support and vote, we can continue to build our power, fight privatization, mayoral control and IMPACT and send a message to DCPS that our members aren’t going to sit back and continue to take their abuse, but we are going to organize and fight back.
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