Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1463867
HEMET: Two-year contract Hemet Teachers Association reached agreement in February on a two-year contract that pays educators more and improves contract language. Hemet educators will receive a 4 percent on-schedule raise retroactive to 2021 and a 3 percent off-schedule payment for the current school year, and a 3 percent on-schedule increase and a 4 percent off-schedule pay- ment on July 1. HTA also won increased summer school pay and improvements to transfer and reassignment language in the contract. MT. DIABLO: Agreement averts strike After more than 250 days without a contract, Mt. Diablo Education Association reached an agreement with Mt. Diablo Unified School District that will help attract and retain quality educators. MDEA won a 10.5 percent raise over three years when an agreement was reached at the fact-finding hearing on March 18. That day, MDEA picketed with approximately 500 members and supporters outside the district office while the hearing was underway in a show of unity. Two days before, MDEA announced 92 percent of its members had voted to authorize a strike. "Both MDEA and the district believe this settlement is the best agreement possible after discussion with the fact-finding panel, and considering the available up-to-date information," MDEA and MDUSD said in a joint statement. The agreement preserves prep time for fourth and fifth grade teachers, ensures the new state law regarding transitional kindergarten staffing ratios will be followed, and limits class sizes at continuation high schools to 28. TORRANCE: Getting a raise, making progress After several months of bargaining, Torrance Teachers Association won an agreement that provides a 3 percent retroactive salary increase, in addition to 2 percent already applied this year for a total of 5 percent, and a prospective 3 percent pay increase for next year. TTA also won additional contract language, including language related to RTI (Response to Intervention) time, and agreed on calendars for the next two school years. Although TTA and the district are fundamentally deadlocked over some key unresolved issues, both sides have committed to work together to resolve them in the coming months. TWIN RIVERS: Solidarity campaign Twin Rivers United Educators in North Sacramento kicked off a solidarity campaign across their 50 sites in February to help gear up for the start of bargaining in mid-March. Every week, all members are being urged to wear their union shirts on Thursdays. The TRUE organizing team worked with leadership to highlight five sites each week on both internal and external social media. TRUE leaders are also visiting one site every Thursday to help boost unity and hear from members. See and engage with the campaign on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtags #WeAreTRUE and #TRUETimeIsNow. The TRUE team also launched a new Instagram with the handle @WeAreTRUEunion. 36 cta.org Advocacy