Our Vision

Concerted, organized, public action is the cornerstone of meaningful positive change, and we think this is necessary in Arlington Public Schools. Gone are the days that Arlington educators were empowered as professionals and the best compensated public educators in the region. 

APS is reliant on untold hours of unpaid labor by student-facing staff, all while administrative, bureaucratic edicts encroach further and further into student learning. 

We want Arlington Public Schools to be strong. We have seen firsthand the challenges of retaining and recruiting great staff to our buildings. Along with advocating for better compensation and clear time and duty boundaries in our day to day working conditions, ATU believes that educators’ voices must be a part of APS policy as the policies are being made and implemented. It is imperative in ATU’s view that APS must stop dictating policy and curricula to us. Rather they should follow our lead in forming policy because we know firsthand the needs of students. It is about giving the people who know the work and the issues better than anyone a more equal voice in how this important function will be carried out. This will benefit all Arlington students.

ATU is fighting to improve the work environment so that you can do your jobs better, and so that smart young people with other options will want to join the profession. It is about democracy in the place where you spend more time every week than you spend with your friends, family and hobbies. 

We aspire to be a truly democratic organization governed by rank-and-file members. Rather than entrusting leaders to come to backroom deals (or trusting in a special, private relationship via “meet and confer”), we believe fighting for higher pay, safety, fairness, and dignity in all corners of school buildings and vehicles requires mobilizing our members and colleagues. Within the union, members have the right to differing political perspectives and priorities. We will also promote solidarity with fellow workers in all other industries.