Together, we make the difference.

Join BEST AFT

Brownsville Educators Stand Together (BEST AFT) members continue to build power and win on important issues that reshape school policy, improve working conditions, give school employees a real voice in the decision-making process, and stand up against attacks on our public schools. It is our time to thrive by becoming an official chartered local union of the Texas AFT, AFT, and AFL-CIO.

Countdown to BEST AFT Charter Election

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Election Committee Letter

Executive Board Nomination Form

Officer/Executive Board Duties

BEST AFT Proposed Constitution

FAQs on BEST AFT’s Campaign

What is a chartered local union, and how does it differ from our current structure?

All Brownsville Educators Stand Together (BEST AFT) members are part of what is called the Texas AFT Associate Membership Program (AMP). This is a special member program of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO. The purpose of AMP is to help introduce school employees to the benefits and opportunities AFT can provide. In short AMP’s purpose is to teach employees to use their power to advocate for the issues important to them on a local, state, and national level.

BEST AFT is currently at the organizing committee stage, during which a large portion of dues money is retained locally to establish a treasury, leadership and committees are appointed, and members are trained on how to operate their own local union.

A chartered local is the third and final phase in our development, during which a local constitution is ratified, local leaders are elected by the members, and the elected executive board oversees the day-to-day operations of our union.

Chartered locals will also be affiliated with the 13.5 million-member AFL-CIO and have representation at the local Central Labor Council (i.e., the Rio Grande Valley CLC). AFT members of a chartered local will have full voting rights at the state and national conventions.

Will BEST AFT members see a dues increase upon chartering?

No. Since our organizing committee leadership chose to move to “full dues” in the 2022-2023 school year, there will be no dues increase associated with our chartering in May 2024.

What new benefits do members receive from a chartered local?

BEST AFT members already receive many benefits, including access to a local union office, local representatives, and attorneys. Full-time and part-time Texas AFT staff have been assigned to assist with our local programming needs. In addition, dues dollars are spent on local advocacy efforts that have yielded many positive changes for BISD employees.

Once chartered, members will have access to new benefits. These benefits include:
— receiving a $25,000 Accidental Death &Dismemberment Insurance policy
— having stronger engagement in local elections
— affiliating with the AFL-CIO and Central Labor Council for community support on issues
— electing local union officers
— increasing local professional development programs
— gaining access to organizing and employee welfare grants
— establishing a local higher education scholarship fund
— seeking a local elected consultation policy to win on issues like employee pay, benefits, and working conditions

When will BEST AFT members be able to vote on the charter proposal?

Members will have the ability to vote on the charter proposal at our BEST AFT Spring Social in May 2024 (location/date/time TBD). A secret-ballot election will be held to vote to charter, ratify a proposed constitution, and to elect local officers.

Download Letter to Members

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BEST AFT member Jorge Jasso

We’re stronger together

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BEST AFT in Action

Employee Pay Raises

BEST AFT members are the leading advocates for better pay every year for BISD employees. In 2016, we won the return of a step to the BISD pay scale, resulting in a $727 pay raise for all certified employees. In 2019, we won an increase to special education diagnostician stipends. In 2020, we won a $2,000 raise for all certified employees. And in 2022, we won a $4,000 raise for certified employees and a minimum wage of $15 an hour for classified employees.

Safer Working Conditions

Educators, staff, and students deserve public schools that help them thrive. Thriving schools means safe schools. Our union presented the only comprehensive “Safe Return to Schools” plan to administration at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing BISD employees to the district’s decision-making table on safety issues. That work helped us win several key safety measures, including distanced learning, mandatory masking, and personal protective equipment for staff.

Helping Students Thrive

Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions. BEST AFT members work hard to improve both, voicing concerns and taking action in several ways. In 2019, we gave away 40,000 new books to BISD students as part of our union’s partnership with First Book. In 2020, our advocacy won reduced special education student-to-teacher ratios. In 2023, we spoke up and, in doing so, won a guaranteed 15-minute recess every day for BISD elementary students.

It’s an election year, and our public schools are on YOUR ballot. Visit Texas AFT’s Voter Education Hub for need-to-know information and pick up union-made voting merch at store.texasaft.org.

Every purchase acts as a donation to our union’s political fund and our fight for thriving Texas public schools.

Texas AFT AMP | 912 South Highway 183, Suite 100-A | Austin, TX 78741 | 800-222-3827