Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/55384
ACTION behind this deceptive initiative aren't seeking to protect your voice as an indi- vidual; they are seeking to annihilate it. If I sound paranoid, that's because I know what they are after. They are after us. They know that as a union of educators we will always put students before profits and learning before mandates." To help launch the upcoming cam- paign, State Council members were invited to be filmed giving short messages about why it was important for CTA to be politically involved. Dennis Kel ly and Susan Solomon, president and secre- tary of United Educators of San Francisco, each talked about the UESF-sponsored Proposition A, a parcel tax approved by voters in 2010 that raises $28 million per year. The new funding has allowed the district to recruit and retain quality teachers with increases in base pay, bonuses for working in hard-to-staf f schools and in hard-to-fill sub- ject areas, and retention bonuses. "That parcel tax direct ly affects the quality of educa- tion in the district, but with- out being able to use our union dues, we wouldn't have been able to conduct that campaign," Kelly said. In addition, the November ballot may contain a spending cap initiative to cut school funding and limit future state spending, and an initiative that threatens pensions. It will also include the presidential candidates. Of the upcoming campaign, Vogel said, "Losing is not an option for this election, and victory isn't going to be easy. But together, we have a powerful voice and tremendous energy and a successful track record. While the attacks on us seem to be coming from all sides these days, know this: They wouldn't be attacking us if they weren't scared of us. And they should be. We are about to go to battle for the future of this organization and our profession." By Dina Martin 30 California Educator / February 2012 CTA's State Council convenes in Los Angeles in January. DO YOU THINK WE'D HAVE A 40-HOUR WORK WEEK, A SECURE RETIREMENT, AND SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS — ALL THINGS OUR UNION AND OTHERS FOUGHT HARD FOR? Dean E. Vogel In other action, State Council: Elected NEA Directors Colleen Briner-Schmidt (District 5), Gerri Gandolfo (District 7), Karl Kildow (District 8), Eric Padget (District 9), and Gilda Maria Bloom (District 16). Elected Loren Scott to the CTA/ABC Committee (District J-LA). Welcomed this year's Read Across America honorary co-chairs James Burks, Neil Klayman and Barry Chung, the authors and illustrators of Gabby and Gator and Boris Ate a Thesaurus. The annual Read Across America celebration takes place on March 2. Greeted Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship winner Cathy Creasia, a classroom teacher and member of United Teachers Los Angeles. Congratulated the San Ramon Valley Education Association, winner of the Jose Colmenares Award for Outstanding Chapter Communications, for its success- ful campaign to elect three school board members in a highly contested race. Approved a resolution that CTA will take every step necessary to combat the threatened elimination of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and all preschool programs. Endorsed and called upon local chapters to support the Occupy movement's Statewide Week of Action in Defense of Public Education, March 1-8, 2012, including the rally March 5 at the state Capitol. Took an "Oppose" position on the Government Spending Limit Act of 2012. Approved candidate recommendations for the state Legislature and U.S. Congress in the June 5 primary. IF WE LEFT IT UP TO THE CEOS, HOW LONG CTA Photo by Terry Ng