Teachers union has lost touch with its members. We have a better approach | Opinion

As the daughter of a union steward, I grew up knowing the value of unions and was taught the importance of joining and engaging in my union. So, as a union member, building steward, delegate and executive board member, I know the importance of not just having a seat at the table, but also having a true representative voice.

Over the past 12 years, I witnessed members delete this union because of the absence of representation. During the pandemic, teachers were ushered back into the classroom armed by their union with countless UTD surveys and their building steward. As a UTD executive board member and building steward, I made it my mission to email every steward with the subject line: How can I help? The responses of frustration, exhaustion and outrage warned of a union in trouble.

Many in our bargaining unit are not joining the union because of apathy, lack of a clear vision, the absence of a unionist community and partisan leadership — not to mention the general distrust of district administration. Because of this, our union teeters on an uncertain foundation.

Our membership deserves a leadership that understands good education policy has no political affiliation, dissension is not opposition, membership is at the forefront of every decision made, and presence in the buildings and worksites is necessary beyond photo opportunities or recruitment. Membership deserves leadership that sees the importance of grassroots advocacy, understands member advocacy is at the heart of member retention and recruitment, and is willing to act on the membership’s behalf — not just during an election season.

I am running for president of United Teachers of Dade alongside first vice presidential candidate Richard Ocampo, secretary-treasurer candidate Katherine Prelaz, an Executive Board slate, and over 50 delegates. Together, we are the People Over Politics Caucus, our alternative to the status quo. We seek to build a union that will operate with three pillars at its foundation: advocacy, community and transparency (ACT).

Advocacy: People Over Politics will create a membership-led union and have an active and vocal presence in the school sites and worksites to gauge membership needs. We will make the contract accessible and enforceable, implementing contract specialists who will answer concerns, visit school sites to enforce the contract and advocate for members.

Community: We will build a coalition with the other unions within MDCPS to strengthen our collective-bargaining power, honor membership and create space within our offices to build community and togetherness.

Transparency: We will create a UTD software app allowing membership to access to their union in the palm of their hand. They can chat online with a contract specialist, watch a brief contract video, track a grievance and so much more. People Over Politics wants members and stewards to be trained on the MDCPS budget as well as that of the UTD, so there is complete clarity as to how their dues are working for them. Additionally, the Referendum Retirement Accruing Supplements (RRAS) are a great way to supplement teacher pay, but it should not supplant incremental salary increases that do not require lobbying of the community.

As the union that represents teachers, paraprofessionals, substitutes, support staff and clerical workers in the fourth-largest school district in the nation, we cannot take a place on the national stage if our own house is in disarray. The People Over Politics Caucus will unify the UTD and act on behalf of our membership to revitalize and strengthen our union, ensuring its existence for years to come.

Alexandria Martin is a teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and a candidate for United Teachers of Dade president.