Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/912628
By Cynthia Menzel, Mike Myslinski and Ed Sibby. #OurVoiceAtTheTable San Francisco: Agreement Reached At press time, the 6,200 educators and paraeducators rep- resented by United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) were voting by mail to ratify their strong tentative contract agreement reached Nov. 4. It includes an 11 percent raise and 5 percent in bonuses and ongoing add-ons — including putting a parcel tax on the June 2018 ballot. " This enormous victory was the outcome of an intensive UESF organizing campaign, and outreach to parents and community," says UESF President Lita Blanc. The agreement includes enhanced language on work- ing conditions such as improved protocols around school safety and student discipline, and prioritizing professional development in key areas such as restorative practices and cultural competency. It also establishes parent par- ticipation in joint union-district committees. Details at tinyurl.com/uesfrelease. Sacramento: Strike Averted On Nov. 7, the 2,800-member Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) reached agreement with the Sacra- mento City Unified School District, averting a strike that had been scheduled for the following day. "We were prepared to go on strike to ensure our students have qualified educators in every classroom, resources they need, and programs that will pave the way to their success," says SCTA President David Fisher. Highlights of the agreement include curtailing unneces- sary testing and creating a committee to develop the best methods of monitoring student progress; an up to 11 percent salary increase over three years to help recruit and retain educators; working with Sacramento's mayor, other unions and community-based organizations to pass a 2020 ballot measure to fund arts, music and restorative practices to enrich students' academic and cultural experiences; and an improved process for hiring and transferring educators. Details at tinyurl.com/saccityrelease. Williams: Contract Settlement After a year of negotiations and impasse that nearly led to a strike, Williams Teachers Association (WTA) members reached agreement in early November with Williams Unified School District, Colusa County, and held a ratification vote soon after. The two-year contract, also approved by the school board, includes a restructured salary schedule that will help attract and retain qualified teachers, as well as changes to the work year, hours and length of workday, and other teaching and learning conditions. WTA President Tony Hermann says WTA educators were particularly appreciative of parents and com- munity during negotiations. Chula Vista: Still No Contract Despite a promise two years ago to bargain in good faith and put students first , Arnulfo Manriquez , CEO of the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee (MA AC), which operates the MAAC Commu- nity Charter School (MCCS), hasn't come through. MCCS Education Association mem- bers at the public high school still have no contract. MCCS educators work mostly with English learners and students who are dealing with many social issues, and say that the school, located in Chula Vista, San Diego County, needs to settle a fair contract to help retain and recruit qualified educators, keep class sizes small, and support safe schools. They picketed and rallied at the annual chapter recruiting fund- raiser in mid-November to increase awareness of their plight and pressure Manriquez to settle. San Mateo: Agreement Reached After more than 500 days without a contract, San Mateo Elementary Teachers Association (SMETA) members reached a tentative agreement Nov. 30. They had packed a San Mateo-Foster City district school board meeting in early November to demand respect, smaller class sizes and a fair contract settlement. Contract talks had dragged on for more than a year, despite the district ending the 2016-17 school year with $64 million in reserves, and educators' starting salary ranked 17th among neighboring school districts. At press time, contract details were going out to SMETA members, and a ratification vote was planned Dec. 7-15. MCCS Education Association members hit the streets in June. Cynthia Menzel 50 cta.org Advocacy B A R G A I N I N G