Who
Every school site has an Association Representative, or AR. The AR is your union representative at your school site. Sites with more than thirty members are also allocated one Council Representative, or CR, for every fifteen members. CRs provide support to ARs as well as an additional vote at the monthly Representative Council.
What
The Association Representative is your first and greatest resource for enforcing your contract and organizing around issues at your site. When you believe that your contractual rights are being violated, you should immediately consult your AR to determine whether you should file a grievance, contact SDEA, or work with your colleagues at your site to get organized around an issue.
Where
Your Association Representative is an SDEA member leader specific to your school. He or she works as the liaison between educators at your site and the staff at SDEA.
When
Elections are held for Association Representatives in the spring of each school year. Election information will be posted at your school as well as on the SDEA website.
Why
An Association Representative is the key to helping you build a strong site. Having a local union leader on your campus enables you and your colleagues to organize around the unique issues that you encounter at your site, as well as be a part of larger District-wide organizing. ARs do the important work of strengthening our union site by site, ensuring that the District treats educators fairly.
How
Association Representatives can only do so much without your help! You can help build a strong union presence at your school by attending site union meetings, taking a leadership role in site organizing, and even running to be an AR yourself. Your first step is to find your worksite and start getting involved.
If you are an Association Representative, be sure to visit the AR’s Corner.