AASU President’s Message – New Year, New Momentum
Happy New Year, and welcome to the spring semester! I hope your winter break provided time for rest, reflection, and renewal.
As we begin 2026 together, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to each of you for your engagement, your voice, and especially for your vote to ratify our first collective bargaining agreement. This milestone represents the power of collective action and the strength of our union. Your participation made this possible, and this agreement marks an important step forward in advocating for professionalism, respect, and improved working conditions for our members.
I also invite you to join us at the January 26 Board of Education meeting to demonstrate our collective presence and continued solidarity. A strong showing matters. It reinforces the message that our voices are united and that our work deserves visibility and respect.
Additional details regarding the meeting and next steps will be shared soon.
Thank you again for your commitment to our students, our colleagues, and our profession. I look forward to the work ahead and to continuing to move forward together.
In solidarity,
Dianne Huslin
AASU President
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING ON JANAURY 26 – PLEASE ATTEND! Our first AASU contract will be presented to the Board of Trustees for ratification on January 26. This is a huge step for AASU and we ask that our members attend the meeting so that the Board sees that our members support the contract. President Dianne Huslin and Bargaining Chair Sasha Scott will be speaking to the Board on behalf of AASU. We ask that when they speak, all AASU members stand up so that the Board can see the support. More information will be provided in the next week on the approximate time of our item. Additionally, following Board ratification, more information will be disseminated regarding implementation dates of specific items in the contract.
CALSTRS AND CALPERS POWER OF ATTORNEY – IMPORTANT! All AASU Members in Good Standing are highly encouraged to complete the applicable retirement system Power of Attorney form. In the event the member becomes incapacitated and unable to handle their own affairs, the power of attorney can make decisions regarding the members’ retirement account. This is particularly important if the member is terminally ill and can no longer communicate or make decisions. To make decisions regarding the retirement plan, the form linked below must be on file with the retirement system. A medical or other type of power of attorney is not accepted by the retirement system. Please ensure you have this form on file. Hopefully, you never need it but if you do, it’s peace of mind.
CalSTRS
https://www.calstrs.com/power-of-attorney
CalPERS
AASU IS AWARDING $500 SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILDREN OF OUR AASU MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING.
The AASU Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that children and stepchildren of AASU Members in Good Standing, who are graduating seniors this year, are eligible for an AASU scholarship to be used towards higher education. The AASU Scholarship Program is funded by proceeds from the 50/50 drawings at our social events/membership meetings and member dues. All students who apply and are qualified will receive a $500 scholarship. The application submission deadline is March 20, 2026.
Please click the link below for information on how to apply and for the application.
NOTE: Please mail the application and required essay to the UASC/AASU office via U.S. mail (3505 Camino del Rio So. Ste 264, SD 92108) or scan and e-mail it to patti@unitedadmin.us by the March 20 deadline.
SAVE THE DATE. On March 12, from 4:00-5:00 p.m., AASU will be holding a virtual membership meeting which will include updates regarding the new collective bargaining agreement and a presentation from UnionPlus on how to use the many benefits they provide. At the end of the meeting, those still in attendance will be in a drawing to win gift cards! Mark your calendar and plan on attending! Zoom link information will be forthcoming.
AASU UNION REPRESENTATION – KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Under Weingarten Rights, AASU members are entitled to union representation in any meeting/conversation that “may” lead to discipline. If you are called to a meeting where you are unsure of the topic, ASK! If the topic is a meeting/conversation that “may” lead to discipline or an investigatory meeting, please contact Donis Coronel, Executive Director, AASU/UASC for representation to be assigned. Do not attend alone. Also, if you are in a meeting where things are moving in a direction that you feel could become disciplinary, kindly stop the meeting and state that you will reschedule the meeting when your union representative can be present. Know your Weingarten Rights!
What are Weingarten Rights? Named for a United States Supreme Court case, NLRB v. J Weingarten, Inc. 420 U.S. 251 (1975), Weingarten rights have been extended to public employees under California’s labor relations statutes. Simply put, an employee has the right to request a union representative in an investigatory interview when the employee has a reasonable basis to believe that discipline may result from any conference or meeting. The right to a union representative applies to investigatory questioning that is written as well as oral. The employee must assert their Weingarten rights – the employer has no obligation to notify employees of these rights. The employee does not have the right to choose who the union elects to represent them. The union representative has the right to sufficient information about the nature of the employee’s alleged wrongdoing before an investigatory interview takes place in order for meaningful representation. The union representative can ask clarifying questions, take notes, assist the employee in providing additional information, and provide moral support. Know your rights! Donis’ contact information is donis@unitedadmin.us or 619-813-8792. Put Donis’ contact information in your cell phone.