Building Sustainable Change

A Reflection on Organizing Weekends

This year, I’ve had the privilege of teaching organizing skills to many Chapter Leaders during Chapter Leader Weekend Retreats. Mentorship is a crucial component of fostering sustainable change in any organization, and these retreats have been an opportunity to cultivate strong educational leaders who can shape the culture of their school communities.

As an educator, organizer, and student of leadership, I frequently reflect on the fractal nature of schools and the broader organizational ecosystems in which they exist (D’Auria, 2021). Schools do not operate in isolation; they are deeply embedded within larger social, political, and economic systems. When we examine challenges such as the attempted dismantlement of the Federal Department of Education or shifts in labor policy, we must consider how these external forces impact our schools and our union’s ability to advocate for educators and students.

This past weekend marked the final session of a four-part training series designed to support new chapter leaders in their development as effective organizers. Throughout these weekends, participants celebrated numerous victories in shifting school culture and strengthening union engagement. Their successes varied, from fostering stronger relationships with colleagues to securing critical improvements in working conditions. These wins, though often incremental, are essential in laying the groundwork for larger systemic changes.

However, we also took time to reflect on the challenges these leaders continue to face. Many struggle with shifting their perspective on union work—from simply servicing members to organizing them, a key lesson emphasized in Secrets of a Successful Organizer (Bradbury, Brenner, & Slaughter, 2016). Entrenched systems can be difficult to change, and educators, in particular, are accustomed to structured routines. While stability is necessary for effective teaching, it can also create resistance to adopting new organizing strategies.

A significant hurdle is the mindset shift from being problem solvers to being power builders. Educators often pride themselves on taking care of their students, families, and communities. Solving immediate problems provides a sense of accomplishment and can even help prevent burnout, as small wins offer a dopamine boost that fuels continued effort (Maslach, 2018). However, long-term resilience in organizing requires recognizing that sustainable change is not about quick fixes but about restructuring institutional culture to support systemic wins over time.

Many new organizers fall into the trap of idealism, seeking transformative victories without recognizing the foundational work required to achieve them. Big wins provide an immediate rush, but they are unsustainable without the groundwork of smaller, incremental victories that shift institutional norms. This is why effective organizing requires strategic planning—mapping out steps, building coalitions, and preparing for setbacks along the way (McAlevey & Lawlor, 2023).

Unfortunately, some individuals seeking power within our union fail to grasp this reality. They denigrate the work of officers and experienced organizers, dismissing hard-won incremental gains because they do not immediately yield the sweeping changes they desire. True change, however, requires a long-term vision and an understanding that every win, no matter how small, contributes to a broader strategy for progress. Reckless calls for strike action and readiness, for example, often fail to consider the real consequences for educators and students alike. While strikes are a powerful tool, they are not the only tool in our organizing toolbox. If the only strategy one understands is a hammer, every challenge appears to be a nail—a mindset that limits effectiveness and undermines sustainable movement-building.

Equally concerning is the rise of opportunistic candidates seeking leadership roles without accountability for their past failures. One such candidate, now running for a top position in the UFT, previously served as the union’s political director. During his tenure, he failed to anticipate or mitigate the legislative changes that led to the creation of Tier 6—a development that significantly harmed future pension security for educators. Now, he and his running mates attempt to reframe his past missteps as campaign rhetoric, shifting blame onto others for political challenges in which he played a direct role. If he failed to safeguard pension protections when he had the authority to act, how can we trust him to be an effective advocate now?

At the same time, true grassroots organizing continues to drive meaningful change. I recently commented on an Instagram post from a union organizer whose politics are further left than mine, yet whose organizing efforts I deeply respect. His school took a stand—literally—rallying against ICE in their neighborhood while being filmed by what appeared to be undercover officers. Regardless of one’s stance on immigration enforcement, this moment was a powerful display of solidarity. It wasn’t performative outrage for social media clout; it was a pragmatic step toward a long-term goal. The significance of such efforts isn’t measured by immediate policy wins but by the unity and courage they build within the movement.

Real policy change demands both persistence and pragmatism. Consider Tier 4 pensions, which evolved between 1983 and 2009 through continuous advocacy and legislative effort. Many of us weren’t even in service when Tier 4 was first enacted, yet we benefit today from the groundwork laid by past union leaders. The fight for Tier 6 reform will require the same long-term strategy. This Monday, as we travel to Albany with our chapter leaders to lobby lawmakers, we will carry this history with us. With more legislators now personally impacted by Tier 6, momentum for reform is growing. Change won’t happen overnight, but every legislative victory moves us closer to a more secure future for our members. I am sure I will have reflections on Lobby Day to come, however this post was written prior to that long bus ride.

Sustainable organizing is about playing the long game. It’s about recognizing that every effort, no matter how small, contributes to a larger movement. It requires patience, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex systems with a clear vision. As we continue this work, let’s remain focused on building power—not just for today, but for the generations of educators who will follow in our footsteps.

Only one slate, the UNITY slate, of officers has shown not only the ideals to move our union forward for the next 3 years, but also the pragmatic discipline to get the small wins that will build a sustainable future going forward. Continued Idealism is important to drive our union along a path to social justice and equity for working people. But a slow, steady pragmatic approach is the only way to not only succeed in the short term, but to ensure those wins and gains will stand the test of time.

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References

Bradbury, A., Brenner, M., & Slaughter, J. (2016). Secrets of a successful organizer. Labor Notes.

D’Auria, J. (2021). The transformational leader: Cultivating leadership through emotional intelligence and systemic change. Harvard Education Press.

Maslach, C. (2018). Burnout: The cost of caring. Malor Books.

McAlevey, J., & Lawlor, A. (2023). Rules to win by: Power and participation in union negotiations. Oxford University Press.