Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1512793
Virtual educators file unfair practice charges California Virtual Educators United (CVEU) continues organizing around a bargaining impasse with California Virtual Academies (CAVA), a public online charter school with close ties to K12/Stride Inc., a Virginia-based for- profit corporation that specializes in online schools. Four sessions with a state medi- ator have so far failed to achieve a settlement, and CVEU has filed two unfair practice charges with the Public Employment Relations Board, one over CAVA's failure to comply with infor- mation requests concerning the 60% of its budget that goes out of state to K12/Stride. CAVA spends substantially less of its budget on teacher salaries than traditional brick and mortar public schools, and CVEU members earn sig- nificantly less than the state average. "CAVA management continues to violate their previous settlement agreement, and to drag their heels or completely refuse to prepare to bargain in good faith," said CVEU President Nicole Piper. "Not only do educators need this information to bargain effectively, but California tax- payers deserve transparency on how their tax dollars are being used in a publicly funded charter, as well as its financial ties to an out-of-state corpo- rate giant like K12/Stride." CVEU represents educators at CAVA, which is one virtual school with nine charters, and at Insight Schools of California. A sister union, iQ Teachers Association, representing educators at iQLA Academy Los Angeles, is also at impasse. Another mediation session was scheduled for late November. GILROY: Class size reductions, improved learning conditions After more than a year of bargaining, Gilroy Teachers Association (GTA) members organized and won improved learning conditions, student and educator wellness, and fair com- pensation to improve educator retention and recruitment. Highlights of the agreement include a 13% ongoing and retroactive salary increase over two years (2022–2023 and 2023–2024), plus a 4% one-time off-schedule payment for 2023–2024; and reduced class-size ratios of 24 to 1 in grades one through three for 2024–2025 through 2026–2027 with a duty to bargain permanent implementation in 2025–2026. "We credit members' collective action with our ability to reach an agree- ment," said GTA President Caitlin Madolora. "Members spoke at board meetings, participated in shows of solidarity at back-to-school nights and districtwide PD days, distributed flyers to parents during school pick-up and- drop-off and demonstrated at their sites and (the district) office." SAUSALITO: Teachers win after authorizing strike The power of educators' unity and willingness to strike for the resources students deserve pushed Sausalito District Teachers Association (SDTA) to victory after 10 months of bar- gaining. "It took all of us advocating up until the very end because we know our students deserve this and nothing less," said SDTA Bar- gaining Chair Andrea Burns. "We also know that as educators we should be paid for the profession- als we are. Our team worked so hard, and we never gave up." The agreement with the district includes a 13.57% pay increase over three years retroactive to last year, employee healthcare paid through 2025, binding arbitration and improvements to recruit and retain quality educators. Said SDTA Co-President Sean St. Denny, "I thank our members for sup- porting SDTA's bargaining team in advocating for a fair contract that keeps up with the increases in housing and living costs so that we can attract and retain the best educators for our students." 37 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 24