Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1541528
Little Lake Educators at Impasse Little Lake Education Association (LLEA) declared impasse with Little Lake City School District on Oct. 30. LLEA educators, who serve students across Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk, are fighting to keep fully funded health care and smaller classroom sizes and have called on the district to tap its $6 million in unrestricted funds to cover budget shortfalls. Many parents kept their children home on Nov. 10 in support of their teachers. While the union does not condone students missing school, LLEA President Maria Pilios said, "we are appreciative of the support the community is giving us." She said educators have yet to receive information they need on district finances to negotiate health care costs. LLEA is also against raising class sizes, as that is a primary reason the district can boast stel- lar state test scores. Oakland Contract Talks Stalled, Educators Head to Impasse On Nov. 7, Oakland Education Association (OEA) announced it's at impasse with Oakland Unified after months of stalled progress. Educators have been working without a contract since July. As the district insists on cuts, OEA is pushing for less bureaucracy and more student support. "OUSD keeps saying they are broke, but their spending tells a different story," said OEA President Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, noting that Oakland teachers are the lowest paid in the county and turnover rates are high. OEA has repeatedly submitted contract proposals that would lower class sizes, strengthen special education, and improve school safety to improve student outcomes. The district has responded by proposing additional cuts. UTLA: Rallies, Union Solidarity as Negotiations Continue As UTLA negotiates their expired contract with LA Unified, members rallied Nov. 6 in multiple locations around LA, joined by parents, students, community allies and unions representing district food service workers, custodians, TAs, construction workers and other education employees. This was the first time that all eight LA Unified employee unions rallied together in vibrant displays of community and union solidarity behind winning concrete improvements for educators, students and school staff. UTLA leaders say that with $5 billion in reserves, the district can afford to pay staff what they deserve and fund improvements for students, like lower class sizes and more mental health supports. In a major win in early November, LAUSD district dropped their proposal to pass increased health care costs onto employees. UTLA has reached tentative agreements on a number of items thus far in negotiations; and as of mid-November made progress in bargaining on adult education, improved ratios for high school counselors, and support for immigrant students and staff. But LA Unified has yet to respond on core demands around salary, class size, staffing and more. 50 cta.org Advocacy