As this year comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on the work we’ve done together, and on the road ahead.

I’m also mindful of the privilege and power of having a union in a country where so few workers have a voice at work and where the forces aligned against us are so well funded. I’m grateful to be a member of a union of 310,000 educators committed to the fight for the schools, communities and society we all deserve.

Let me be clear: we will defend our students, public education, and workers’ rights against any attack whether at the local, state or national level. We will fight for the future we all deserve!

The recent election results left too many feeling unsafe and vulnerable. This pain is real, and we must acknowledge our hurt, fear and anger. We must also care for ourselves and each other in moments like this. As Audre Lorde said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

“Let’s remind ourselves of the power and responsibility we have as union educators, let’s care for each other, and let’s get ready to continue our fight.”

Care and connection are themselves powerful forms of solidarity. Check in on your colleagues, support students who confide in you, and remember the core of our union: having each other’s backs.

We are living in a critical moment for public education. California students and educators need more resources, not less, for students to learn in safe and stable school environments. Educators deserve salaries and benefits that allow us to thrive in the communities we serve. Nationally, special education is criminally underfunded. We need and deserve leaders who understand these issues and will work alongside educators to secure more resources for public schools and protect the institution of public education. Our students and communities deserve no less. This is why we worked so hard to elect public education supporters up and down our state.

During this election cycle we had the highest level of engagement our union has seen, especially in districts where the safety of students has been under attack and where the stability of our schools was at risk.

Together we knocked on 500,000 doors across the state and though we lost some tough races we also won in places like Hayward, Salinas, Fresno, Sacramento, Stockton, Anderson Valley, Mountain View, Orange, Saddleback, San Diego, Oceanside, Chula Vista and in many other districts. That’s five times as many doors as we knocked on in the last election.

I’m proud of every single CTA member and chapter that walked and knocked to win for our students and our public schools! I won’t pretend to know precisely what the road ahead looks like. But I know that it will be challenging and that we, as union educators, will be at the very center of the battles ahead.

And whatever comes, we will be ready. We will build the power of our union through deep organizing, we will stand in defense of the rights of educators and students, of the need for our schools to be safe places to learn and teach, of the righteous fight that every educator in California deserves to earn a living wage so that we can live in the communities we serve.

In the days and weeks ahead, let’s remind ourselves of the power and responsibility we have as union educators, let’s care for each other, and after we’ve had some time to rest, let’s get ready to continue our fight.

David B. Goldberg
CTA PRESIDENT