Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/417576
Advocacy BARGAINING UPDATE SAN YSIDRO TEACHERS STRIKE WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT Marchers chanted "We want our teachers back!" at the San Ysidro School District office Oct. 10, the third and final day of the San Ysidro Education Asso- ciation's strike. SYEA members decided to strike after suffering "long- term district-level corrup- tion, nepotism, favoritism, intimidation, oppression, and disrespect of certificated and classified staff alike," says SYEA Vice President Kristal Dominguez. "Our former superintendent will soon be sentenced for a felony in- volving campaign violations." Parents and community members' efforts on behalf of teachers made all the difference. "On the second day of the strike, 50 parents went to the district office to demand are in a new contract ratified overwhelmingly by teachers in Temecula Valley Unified, Riverside County. "This agreement is good for the entire educa- tional community," says Jeff Kingsberg, Temecula Valley Educators Associa- tion president. The agreement means K-3 class sizes will not rise above the 24-student aver- age set forth in the state's Local Control Funding Formula. Special education teachers for grades 6-12 will now have an extra prep period to deal with increas- ing caseloads. After suffering with no raises since 2007, educators won a 3 percent increase retroactive to July 1, 2014, with another 2 percent kicking in on Jan. 1 if certain state funding levels are met. OAKLAND TEACHERS PROTEST IN STREETS OVER CLASS SIZ- ES, STUDENT RESOURCES Oakland Education Associ- ation members are fighting for smaller class sizes and fair salary increases, and they want the public to know it. So they protested on answers from our interim su- perintendent. He told them to come back when they were organized. And they did — the very next day!" says Dominguez. "It was incred- ible! By 7:30 a.m. Monday, SYEA had a ratified agree- ment, and teachers were back in the classroom doing what they love — teaching their kids." In the end, SYEA moved from a final district offer of 6.5 percent in salary cuts to a settlement that included a 3 percent increase over two years, with no cuts to class days and no extension of the work day. TEMECULA TEACHERS GAIN CLASS SIZE PROTECTIONS, EXTRA PREP PERIOD Class size protections for students, raises, and caseload prep changes for special education teachers seven busy street corners in another "Hour of Power" demonstration. Among the lowest-paying districts in the East Bay, Oakland Unified rejected teachers' calls for smaller class sizes and more coun- selors to support students, and refused to offer fair rais- es to halt teacher turnover from inadequate salaries. OEA President Trish Gor- ham voiced the frustrations of hundreds of teachers. "The entire education budget of California was overhauled to ensure that students with the greatest need get the most resourc- es — lower class sizes and caseloads, increased support services, and sta- bility in their schools. The educators of Oakland have committed to these values. Why won't Oakland Unified School District?" Gorham says the union proposed a contract that provides justice, equity, and stability for students and educators, while the district takes $1.3 million previously promised off the table for 2014-15. The district has received $38 million in additional funding over the past two years, but Oakland teachers have received only a 2 per- cent increase in salary. SAN FRANCISCO TEACHERS' HALLOWEEN RALLY TO RETAIN QUALITY STAFF A special Halloween-themed rally, calling attention to stalled contract talks that could be moving San Francisco to its first school strike in 35 years, included dozens of San By Ed Sibby and Mike Myslinski SAN YSIDRO TEACHERS are in a new contract ratified answers from our interim su Bargaining 39 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 4