Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1546952
CTA Secretary-Treasurer Erika Jones speaks at the State Capitol after paid pregnancy disability leave is included in the 2026–27 State Budget in August. To her right is Asm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry; behind her are members of the CTA Board of Directors. Our Union Wins Paid Pregnancy Leave for Educators Tens of thousands of member voices power historic victory By Julian Peeples "T H I S I S W H A T union advocacy is about. This win is proof that when educators raise our voices together, we can create meaning ful change," says Stacie urman, president of Oxnard Education Association. "It gives me goosebumps that we were able to achieve this! Our work is improving people's lives." Starting Jan. 1 of next year, all California public school employees will be able to use up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave — a monumental victory powered by thousands and thousands of CTA members determined to right a historic wrong and create meaning ful change for future generations of educators (and mothers) to come. is massive win capped an extraordinary effort that spanned multiple years and two dif- ferent pregnancy leave bills, showing just how much we can accomplish when we organize and take action together. "So many before us had to fight for this, lose pay, leave the profession and have their retirement impacted for decades," says CTA Secretary-Treasurer Erika Jones, who led the campaign. "As a woman educator and CTA leader, this is a moment where we can look ahead to a time where we are no longer penalized for starting a family. As a mother, this is a moment where I recog- nize we are leaving the profession better for the next generation." e lack of paid pregnancy leave for California public school educators has long been a dirty secret, forcing generations of women teachers to plan their births around summer break, endure major financial strain, return to work too soon after having a child, and negatively impact their retirement security. "As a union president, I've spent countless hours helping members try to piece maternity leave together like a puzzle," urman says. These shared experiences helped spawn the movement to win pregnancy leave in October 2023, when CTA State Council of Education voted to sponsor legislation that would affect all public school employees. "It was the right thing to do, especially in an industry that's more than two-thirds women," says Eva Ruiz, member of the CTA Board of Directors. "As a veteran teacher, I've never been We Did It! 34 cta.org Feature