Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1543424
face the same state budget landscape. "Yet other districts have figured out how to staff their schools. Other districts have figured out how to retain experienced edu- cators. Other districts have figured out how to honor the work of school employees so that students have stability." " We sounded the alarm bells, we filed the complaints, we rolled up our sleeves at the bar- gaining table for almost a year but still the district refused to work with us to solve the crisis," said UTR Organizing Chair Sam Cleare. For Ortiz, the strike was a matter of necessity. " We struck not out of desire, but out of duty," Ortiz said. " We feel the harm caused when the district refuses to listen. For too long our students have gone without the stable staffing they need and it doesn't have to be that way." Support from students, parents, community Engaging students, parents and community early is a critical lesson from the UTR strike. In addition to pulling all stakehold- ers together to address students' urgent needs through regular communication and actions, UTR held events such as a joyful art build open to all to help create visually impactful messages — and become a part of the campaign. is built solidarity to fight back against the district's distorted messaging. District attempts to characterize the strike as disruptive or harmful could have generated fear and uncertainty. Instead, the community viewed the strike as a truly collective action in defense of public education. Picket lines and rallies were bolstered by support from parents, students, local elected leaders and members of Teamsters Local 856, who joined the strike after rejecting their initial tentative agreement with WCCUSD. Music and protest chants often accom- panied the actions. For years, the district would tell educators and students to wait for better conditions, a response that helped galvanize student support for the strike. Gian Maldonado, a junior at John F Ken- nedy High School who led a student walkout the day before the strike began, rallied students to support striking workers to improve conditions now, not later. "e district's favorite word seemed to be 'later.' We'll pay you better 'later.' Better working conditions will come 'later.' We'll talk about safe staffing and a fair contract 'later.' We stand with teachers to make it clear that 'later' is NOW !" Community solidarity shattered the narrative that strikes hurt On the last day of the UTR strike, educators and community painted a 100-foot street mural in front of district offices. Photo: Courtesy @dpl19 Dennis Ivan Perez Bravo. UTR President Francisco Ortiz at a strike rally in December. " We sounded the alarm bells, we filed the complaints, we rolled up our sleeves at the bargaining table for almost a year but still the district refused to work with us to solve the crisis." —UTR organizing chair Sam Cleare. 22 cta.org Feature Sam Cleare