Join the Campaign to Re-Elect Tom Brown

Our endorsement of Tom was made after careful and thoughtful consideration. The Unity Steering Committee met, reviewed the candidates, and unanimously recommended him...

I am asking you to join the Campaign to Re-elect Tom Brown as teacher member trustee to the Teachers’ Retirement System Board. To nominate Tom Brown for trustee speak to your chapter leader and sign the TRS nominating petition for Tom Brown and his alternate, Joe Usatch.

***Only sign one petition and only sign for Tom Brown and his alternate, Joe Usatch***

This election matters. The TRS Board makes decisions that directly affect our retirement security, and we need steady, experienced leadership in that seat. Tom Brown has spent more than four decades serving our union and protecting our pensions. He has been a chapter leader for 18 years, a pension consultant for 30 years, a TRS trustee for 12 years, and chair of the TRS Board for three. That depth of experience is not theoretical. It has translated into real gains for our members.

Since 1997, Tom has fought to strengthen and expand retirement benefits. He worked to reduce vesting from 10 years to five, giving more educators access to the pensions they paid into. He supported auto enrollment for paraprofessionals, helping more members build long term security. He helped lower the number of highest earning years used to calculate final pension benefits from five to three, putting real money into retirees’ pockets. These are lasting changes that continue to benefit members today.

Many of you know Tom personally. You may have attended one of his pension workshops, read his Secure Your Future column in New York Teacher, or spoken with him directly about your retirement options. Thousands of members have relied on his guidance because they know he understands both the system and the people it serves. All members have benefited from his tireless work and advocacy.

Our endorsement of Tom was made after careful and thoughtful consideration. The Unity Steering Committee met, reviewed the candidates, and unanimously recommended him. On February 9th, the general membership of the Unity Caucus voted unanimously to endorse him. Shortly after, the UFT Delegate Assembly overwhelmingly followed suit. That is how a democratic union functions. Discussion, deliberation, and then unity around the one candidate who has earned our endorsement and trust.

Now the real work begins.

We need turnout in May. Elections for trustee are often decided by participation, and we cannot take anything for granted.

If you believe in protecting our pensions, if you value experienced leadership, and if you want to be part of an organized effort to secure this seat, I am asking you to step forward and join the campaign.

Sign up, volunteer, spread the word, post on social media, and help us reach every building.

Let’s organize. Let’s mobilize. Let’s reelect Tom Brown to continue safeguarding the retirement security our members have earned.

In Unity,
LeRoy Barr