Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1512793
Support From All Corners Lessons learned from the Rohnert Park-Cotati Educators Association strike line By Cynthia Menzel In March 2022, more than 300 members of the Rohnert Park-Cotati Educators Association (RPCEA) made the deci- sion to go on strike. RPCEA had been negotiating for months with Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District manage- ment and the school board for more investment in their students and educators — even going to state-appointed fact-finding. But CRPUSD ignored the fact-finder's report , leading to a six-day strike. The strike ended when RPCE A reached agreement on a historic three-year contract . A chapter leader and the former bargaining chair look back at their fight and what they learned. "While the strike was the absolute last resort, it only hap- pened because the school board and district superintendent failed to work with us to negotiate a contract that would address recruitment and retention problems we were facing in our district, including recommendations from a neutral fact-finder," says RPCEA President Denise Tranfaglia, who was vice president during that time. Preparing to strike can often be met with fear that the community will turn against educators. Some district admin- istrators will chastise educators for daring to strike in an attempt to pit the community against educators who are will- ing to strike for improvements to their schools and districts. In reality, communities stand with educators. Time and time again, we see parents joining picket lines with their students and communities coming together to support educators. That was the case in Rohnert Park and Cotati, a com- munity in the North Bay with a school district that serves around 6,000 students. Tranfaglia notes that RPCEA had support from all corners. "Families and students were behind us, as were other locals and state labor organizations. Our sister union SEIU, representing classified employees in the district, joined the strike. We had tremendous support from local CTA organizers and leadership as well. It was a true grassroots movement." Prior to the strike, district administrators offered a meager 2% on-schedule increase for the 2021–22 school year. RPCEA held firm — members were engaged before, CTA officers and board directors, including President David Goldberg (third from right), showed solidarity with striking RPCEA members. Continued on Page 22 "It was a true grassroots movement." —RPCEA President Denise Tranfaglia 21 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 24