I ran three years ago as part of the United Action because our union desperately needed to regain its vitality. Prior UTLA leaders seemed more committed to avoiding conflict with the district than responding to the needs and concerns of our members.

The last three years show that a union leadership committed to organizing and energizing the membership can succeed if we go beyond a meek defense of the status quo. The United Action ticket has engaged the membership in an unprecedented union-wide, bottom up conversation to establish contract priorities; we organized the largest, city-wide demonstration of UTLA members since 1989; we won a hard-fought 6% salary increase, maintained health benefits, reduced the number of periodic assessments, rolled-back mid-year renorming, and won a first-ever class size cap.

In the Harbor Area, we have been responsive and assertive on behalf of members: lemon principals have been removed from a number of sites; Harbor participation in union actions has increased dramatically and communication with our members has greatly improved.

With your support, I believe we can continue to transform UTLA into a fighting union. As your AFT Director and Area Chair, my priorities will be:

• Consistent salary increases that move us to the top-quartile in the county
• End scripted learning programs
• Empower local school sites, with real autonomy and real power
• Maintain health benefits
• Ensure that school site administrators act collaboratively and respectfully

Vote Aaron Bruhnke and the rest of the United Action Team!

Back to Harbor Area

back to top