What We Mean by Democracy
Collective bargaining under fair terms and demanding a new Resolution is a crucial part of building democracy in APS.
If schools are going to prepare students for a democratic way of life, then there need to be meaningful democratic practices in action in our schools. Everyone involved in a school, including young people and educators, has the right to participate in the process of decision making.
Syphax is not the only source of worthwhile knowledge about Arlington schools. Good teachers know that families are invaluable sources of knowledge. Good superintendents know that all kinds of teachers produce invaluable knowledge through action research and relationships with students. An annual “Your Voice Matters Survey” is an entirely inadequate measure that skirts around true input from stakeholders.
How we’re different (democratically speaking)
Open meetings - all membership meetings are open to all APS employees (excepting APS admin and the leadership of other unions).
All members who attend membership meetings have a vote.
We support and will push for Open Bargaining in collective bargaining as a fundamental principle for contract negotiations with APS. Open bargaining is a union negotiation procedure where all contract engagement between workers and their employer is conducted in transparent meetings open to all members of the union's bargaining unit.
We believe that a commitment to Open Bargaining is an important part of Arlington Teachers Union’s pledge to internal transparency and democracy. In addition, this negotiating strategy helps to prevent APS’s negotiators from isolating our leadership and putting undue pressure on them behind the scenes. It allows for maximum participation of the members of each unit, encourages opportunities for workers to get actively involved in bargaining, and bolsters our power as a collective. We don't just want any contract–we want a strong contract!
Nothing for us without us.
Arlington Teachers Union is more democratic because it is more accessible. Not everyone can afford burdensome dues to AEA/VEA/NEA. ATU’s dues are less than half of that.
“Democracy is dangerous to the power elite. Keep everybody scurrying to line up behind impossible standards, and nobody will have the energy to demand democracy”
“The solution to the messiness of democracy is more of it—and more time set aside to make it work.”