Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1512793
Bargaining update Compiled by Julian Peeples and Frank Wells SAN FRANCISCO: Strike vote leads to historic agreement After voting overwhelmingly on Oct. 11 to authorize a strike, United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) won an agreement that gives teachers and paraeducators much-needed pay increases. "With incredible support from parents and the community, we were firmly committed to ensuring that educators are valued and respected, that students get the kind of schools they deserve, and that the district provide resources to enhance the recruiting and retention of educators," said UESF President Cassondra Curiel. " This historic agreement is the first time there was such an emphasis on giving paraeducators meaningful and equitable compensation to ensure that we can help stabilize our schools." Key highlights of the two-year tentative agreement: • Average increase to annual salary for certificated educators: 19.4%; • ESPs to receive minimum salary of $30 per hour or 8% increase (whichever is greater) in year one and a 5% increase in year two; • Longevity pay to help SFUSD retain educators that know SF students; • Average increase to the hourly wage for ESPs including longevity: 39%; • Substitute educators will see a 15% raise over two years; • Additional wins include gains for fully staffed schools, improved working conditions, student support, protections from poor management decisions, community schools and special education. AUBURN: Fighting for safe schools, drinking water Auburn Union Teachers Association (AUTA) members packed a school board meeting in November to share school safety concerns and demand accountability and action. There is a lack of safe drinking water at Auburn schools, forcing teachers to bring water to ensure students have clean water to drink. District administration has failed to address the issue, even chastising some teachers for letting students "drink too much" bottled water then asking for more. " Teachers are fleeing our district," said AUTA President Sara Liebert. "Our students and staff deserve to have drinking water, safe schools and clean and sanitary classrooms." AUTA members took their fight for safe class sizes all the way to media- tion — and won a resolution, including an agreement that ended bargaining for the 2022–23 school year, which had been ongoing for more than a year. At left, the moment UESF educators reached an agreement; inset, UESF President Cassondra Curiel and bargaining team member Michelle Cody, 36 cta.org Advocacy