We Deserve Better

EAA Refuses To Listen

We have been hard at work trying to push for change. In just one short month so much has happened, yet not much has changed. The good news is that RUN continues to achieve results, the bad news is that EAA remains stalwart in their refusal to deliver for members. But we refuse to accept that and our demand for change is stronger than ever.

The collective bargaining agreement finally has an update. Unfortunately, that update amounts to an announcement that the time for feedback is over. This confirms our fear that leadership never intended to include their dedicated members in the collective process. The details of the agreement were sparse, they raised more questions than answers. What little information was shared reaffirmed that EAA has no intention of honoring educator’s wishes.

EAA has spent just shy of a year negotiating, and yet what do they have to show for it? A step increase and cost of living adjustment that the school board more than likely would have provided without question to keep ACPS competitive. Is this really what educators deserve? Or is this the best EAA can do? Either way, we at RUN believe that something needs to change. Though, if we continue down this path and EAA refuses to acknowledge the problem, they doom us all to fail.

The Funds Are There

The issues with EAA run deeper than just a deal that does the bare minimum when it could uplift educators. Leadership’s refusal to communicate with paying members is but one long standing issue. The current EAA president has expressed publicly that she is aware of the budget constraints that will lead to healthcare offsets completely eliminating the pay increases of her deal. Yet it has not been addressed in negotiations. The same way a multitude of other issues that educators face that could be resolved are noticeably absent.

Lack of communication and transparency leads to educators filling in the blanks. The picture that EAA’s silence paints is one of dismissive indifference. Supposedly there are other items that have been negotiated, but if they are important then EAA has decided not to share the details with educators. Another factor not being shared with educators: who is representing them in negotiations? If educators have not been consulted on the points being negotiated in the CBA and whoever is representing is not willing to share the details, then how can educators assume that the negotiated deal will even reflect their needs? We are not confident that EAA has made this deal with educators in mind.

For us it is simple. Educators deserve more, and we intend to deliver for them. EAA’s perpetual inaction and utter refusal to address any concerns or questions means that educators pay the price for their incompetence. But there is another way. A better way that empowers all educators of ACPS. We see the vision but all we need is members to allow us to amplify their voice.

We Will Keep Fighting

A month ago we introduced ourselves and explained why we felt the need to step up and become the change that ACPS educators and EAA members have been begging for. Now we want to explain why we feel more certain than ever that change is necessary and illuminate our vision for what EAA has the potential to become. Over this past month we have seen what can be accomplished if we work towards the goal of holding EAA leadership accountable. We intend to make this only the beginning.

The power of a union lies in its members. A union without representation is one that will leave members disenfranchised. This is the path EAA is trapped within. A restructuring of the bylaws that reflects proper representation and gives members more voting power will drastically change member’s rights overnight. This will be our first objective to give power back to the educators of ACPS.

We also believe that members deserve a stronger CBA. Collective bargaining agreements are meant to address the issues that workers of the union face, to improve workplace conditions and solve grievances to make life on the job easier. As of now, the CBA only addresses pay and even then any salary increase is being negated by healthcare offsets. There are no other agreements that would improve the day to day lives of educators on the job in the workplace. But the largest non-budgetary issue that can be easily resolved is the lack of communication and regular retaliation that educators face. We intend to eradicate this most egregious infringement. A union without a voice defies the purpose of the cause. This is the crisis educators in ACPS face. They deserve better and we intend to give them better. One vote for one voice that cannot be stifled.

Let’s fight together.

Come out to the next RUN Townhall on March 25th. Our virtual townhall will take place over Zoom, directly after the EAA's All Member meeting (make sure you sign up!). Check the calendar event for the most up-to-date meeting info!