To endure means “to last for a long time”, to persist, to continue, to hold on, to hold up, or to prevail”. I preface all of the above to convey the following truth:
We are enduring challenging times.
Ever since mid-March, we have been on {what may feel like} a merry-go-round of ups and downs dealing with the fear and threat of COVID-19, the unexpected demands of working remotely, the trauma that accompanies the level of social injustice and political unrest in our nation, and now to mention, the tentative reopening of schools while COVID-19 is still labeled as a pandemic. Some are grieving the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19 or other related illnesses. Others are afraid, anxious, and restless from worries of becoming ill, or having to choose between their health/safety vs. staying 100% salaried to cover household costs. Is this you? If not, it could be. In all actuality, it could be any one of us. Amid all of the above, we are enduring! We are fighting to chart through uncharted terrain. In fact, that makes us pioneers. YES, You, my fellow brother, my fellow sister, are a pioneer!
I would like you to take this time to think about some of the lessons that you have learned during this time. During this time, I have been reminded of Aristotle’s words, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. In more modern terms, “United we stand, divided we fall”. If anything, these trying times have taught me that “no man is an island”. We need each other. We need to see a smile from someone, hear an encouraging word, and know that we are understood and supported. We need to care for each other, our families, and ourselves. It is my hope that one of your lessons has been to value and appreciate the people and things that truly matter to you, including yourself. Never take time and life for granted! And I add, that we should never take each other for granted. Every member of our union matters. You matter! Your voice matters! Your concerns matter! On behalf of the UACHS AFT LOCAL 6272 Executive Team, we hope you feel supported. Please feel free to contact us with any of your concerns. We are here for you. We will be contacting you soon with updates regarding our tentative re-opening plans in September.
Continue to be safe, stay well, practice social distancing, and wear your mask! In other words, take care of yourself and your family.
In Unity and Solidarity,
Keisha N. Terry, Local 6272 President
Susan Suarez, Local 6272 Vice President