Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1508868
AROUND AEA 11 FALL 2023 | ADVOCATE T his spring, Phoenix Union Classi ed Employees Association reached a historic milestone: they became the rst classi ed local in the state to reach majority status. Already, they've seen the impact in their relationships with district administrators. "I'm de nitely noticing a di erence when we walk into the room. Now, it's, did we forget to invite CEA? Or, oh, did you run that by the CEA president and vice president? It's the respect to be at the table, the respect to be heard, the respect to be treated as professionals," says CEA President Anastasia Jimenez. ere's power in numbers – and school boards and administrators know it. "It's being able to tell the governing board, there's over a thousand of us, and if you like, we can all show up or you can have the conversation with a few of us," adds CEA leader Vanessa Jimenez. How did they get there? Conversations, hard work and old-fashioned organizing skills. CEA leaders and AEA organizing sta How Phoenix Union CEA Took Organizing with Education Support Professionals to the Next Level bit.ly/phxcea-majority-status Join AEA Retired NOW! Ready to Retire? e Arizona Education Association-Retired lobbies to protect the rights of Arizona public school educators. Take the natural step and convert your active membership to retired status and your dues drop to only $8.75 per month! AEA-R wants to get to know you. Please, ll out our survey! www.azedretired.com visited worksites, o en o ering co ee or donuts as a conversation starter. ey built relationships, listened to people's concerns, and shared past victories (like a 30 minute duty-free lunch). And they asked the all- important question: "Will you join?" "Once you start to build those relationships, the momentum just starts to build and it's hard to stop," says Anastasia. In our new 6 minute short lm, we hear directly from Anastasia, Vanessa and other Phoenix CEA members about their paths into education, their organizing work and the road to majority status. Check it out! Ready to Retire?