Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/740763
West Sacramento Teachers OK Pact Members of the Washington Teachers Association ratified a new contract agreement Oct. 5 that provides more than 8.2 per- cent in salary increases over three years — making it easier for Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento to recruit and retain educators. "We're really hoping that this agreement will make our district more attractive to teachers so that they won't transfer out," says Don Stauffer, president of the 425-member WTA, which endured a year of difficult negotiations. The school board was expected to ratify the deal on Oct. 13. Raises amount to 2.2 percent for the 2015-16 school year (plus a one-time 1 percent bonus), 4 percent for this school year, and 2 percent next year. Stockton Educators Move Closer to Strike The Stockton Teachers Association, which has been bar- gaining a new contract with Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) for nearly a year, has been steadfast in its fight to get students the best possible education by ensuring that every student has a highly qualified teacher. Because of low sala- ries, SUSD is losing teachers to other districts, and has been forced to hire less than fully credentialed replacements. Nearly 90 percent of the district's students have high needs. But several weeks into the new school year, there were still 30 teacher vacan- cies, leaving more than 2,000 students floundering in over- crowded classrooms staffed by rotating substitutes. The district has refused to bargain in good faith. STA has proposed a modest 6.5 percent increase in salary for 2015-16 to attract and retain quality teach- ers. But SUSD is unwilling to use the record amounts of LCFF funding it has received for this purpose, and after bargaining, mediation, impasse, fact-finding and the contract's expiration in August, offered a zero percent increase for teachers. STA membership voted to authorize a strike on Sept. 8, and filed unfair labor charges against SUSD for violating the teachers' contract by voting to double the rate of pay of substi- tute teachers in the event of a strike. The Public Employment Relations Board agreed on Sept. 22 to expedite processing of these charges. " The board's decision to boost substitute pay in case of a strike is a clear and dangerous attempt to fracture our union, undermine its solidarity, and illegally entice our members to cross the picket lines," says STA President Erich Myers. " The contempt for law and the unethical treatment of teachers … are so egregious as to be unbelievable." STA also filed a charge against SUSD for trying to use intimidation to force substitute teachers and other members to cross picket lines. Coachella Valley, Dos Palos Oro Loma Chapters Head to Fact-Finding The Coachella Valley Teachers Association has been bar- gaining with the Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) for the past 16 months, with a fact-finding date set for Nov. 9. CVUSD receives the most money per pupil in Riverside County, yet continues to propose one of the lowest salary increases in the county. So CVUSD has difficulty attracting and retaining teachers, instead filling classrooms with long-term substitutes and emergency credentialed teachers. "It is frustrating to see our district receive millions in new state funding and not spend the money in classrooms and on support for high-quality teaching," says CV TA President Rich- ard Razo. "Our students and teachers deserve better." The Dos Palos Oro Loma Teachers Association and Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified School District (DPOLJUSD) were headed to an Oct. 11 fact-finding hearing after mediation efforts failed. "Our goal is to attract and retain quality teachers by develop- ing a salary schedule that provides competitive compensation based on funding the district is receiving and on needs of our students," says Marty Thompson, DPOLTA president. Parties are deadlocked over teacher compensation for the 2015-16 school year. Teachers are asking for a competitive sal- ary schedule to help recruit and keep highly qualified teachers. Despite a $2.1 million increase in new funding this year and an 11 percent revenue increase, the district refuses to invest in attracting and retaining the best teachers for students. "DPOLJUSD has 26 percent of their revenues in reserves, 23 percent more than is required for economic uncertainty," says Thompson. "We want to settle this." By Len Feldman, Cynthia Menzel, Mike Myslinski and Ed Sibby. #OurVoiceAtTheTable 35 October 2016 Educators at Coachella school board rally. Photo by Tomas Martinez. Photo by Len Feldman