Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1529759
AROUND AEA 7 WINTER 2024 | ADVOCATE Organizing for Power on Your Campus Arizona educators are constantly asked to do more work for less pay, even as our expertise is continually disregarded and disrespected. The only way we'll ever change that is by organizing. Ready to get started? It all begins at your own school or worksite. • Ask your site rep about whether your school is at majority status. It's hard to build union power if you don't yet have a majority of your coworkers signed up as union members. Every site rep should have a member list, which they can compare to the employ- ee roster. Who do you need to convince to join? • Talk to your coworkers about the issues that mat- ter to them. Are there concerns that many people share and feel strongly about? Are there administra- tors or supervisors on your campus, or within your school district, who have the power to meaningfully address those issues? • ORGANIZE! Alongside your coworkers, speak up about the problems you're facing and demand solu- tions. Keep working with your coworkers until you get the resolution you need. None of this is for you to do alone. Reach out to the leaders of your local or to your Organizing Consultant for support and guidance! Unsure who to contact? AEA can connect you—email info@arizonaea.org or call (602) 264-1774. If you feel like public education in Arizona is headed for a breaking point, you're not alone. ere's no point in sugarcoating it. As educators, we are under attack from powerful political forces who want to privatize and destroy our public schools. But as educators, we are also incredibly powerful when we choose to stand united and disrupt business as usual. It takes time to build the relationships and the level of participation we need to truly unleash our power. But we're on our way, and moving forward all the time.