“We, the Executive Board and House of Delegates, stand in solidarity with the movement for black lives, as well as its efforts to realize justice, dignity, and equity for those who experience systemic racism and disadvantage within our country, our community and our district.”
A Union’s Strength is its Members
Who is “the union”?
The East Aurora Council of AFT / Local 604 “union” is not its president. It is not the Executive Council. It is not the Building Representatives. It is not the rank-and-file members.
It is ALL of us.
This inclusive understanding is at the root of labor organizing and labor power. Just as a business isn’t only the owners to the exclusion of the workers, a labor organization isn’t just the leadership to the exclusion of its members.
What is the power of a union?
Our union has legal authority as the collective bargaining agent to negotiate contracts.
The Union has explicit powers to grieve administrative violations of the contract, board policies, school code, and labor law, as well as to defend members during disciplinary proceedings and to mediate interpersonal conflicts.
But it doesn’t end there.
Decisions about workplace safety and other working conditions must be made with the Union whether because the law requires it or simply because collaboration helps achieve the best outcomes.
If the District flexes their management rights to unilaterally make a decision, our union can still push back.
But ‘push back’ and many other union endeavors will likely fail without the solidarity and the participation of its rank-and-file members.
The union’s President may have meetings with the Superintendent, and the Executive Council can meet with District Leadership, and the Building Representatives can speak with Building Leadership, but without the eyes of the members to tell us what you see, union leadership does not have sight. Without the ears of the members, union leadership will not hear. Without your hands, we cannot build. Without your brains, we’ll lack solutions. Our collective hearts and passions are the lifeblood of our union without which we cannot function, let alone achieve our collective goals.
Union leadership is office, support, and teachers just like you. We are workers who occupy many of the same classrooms, offices, and work spaces with you. We bring our own experiences to the table. But that isn’t enough. We ask that you reach out to us. We want your ideas when they come from a place of solidarity and a vision for a positive, successful future.
What is a strong union?
When the members are unified in both purpose and their willingness to act.
All in all, the number of those in union leadership is small.
We want and need your help. The more volunteers we have, the more we can do and the more effectively we can do it.
In unity,
The East Aurora Council of AFT / Local 604
Updated: 8.21.2020
EACouncil.org 