United Teachers of Richmond Standing Up for Students: Mediation Done, Next Stop Fact Finding!
On Tuesday, Sept. 30th, UTR had their second and last day of mediation with West Contra Costa Unified School District. While WCCUSD continues to lose educators every year to nearby districts, they refuse to provide any meaningful proposals that address the instability in their schools that harm students and educators alike. So the fight continues. Educators now move to the fact finding process--and have scheduled a strike vote for October 6th through October 14th.
UTR educators, students, parents and community members are united to improve their schools and stand up against bad spending decisions by district administration. UTR is leading the way! See UTR in Action
Stand with UTR, Support Our Schools, Attend the Bay Area Art Build!
Join educators from Richmond, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and beyond on Saturday, October 25th, and Sunday, October 26th, to paint banners and print signs in preparation for UTR’s potential strike and in support of contract campaigns throughout the Bay Area!
This art build will be an opportunity for educators, parents, students, and community to help our fight to protect our schools and make sure our classrooms get the resources they need. There are still a few spaces open for the Friday evening Art Organizing train the trainer, so sign up and bring a team from your local union.
West Sacramento is Building Power Like Never Before!
West Sacramento Teachers Association continues to blow their organizing target goals out of the water! On Sept. 24th, WSTA held their second all-site walk-in. The goal was to get at least 65% member engagement, but members proved to be fired up to fight for the schools their students deserve; 80% of members participated! WSTA teachers area testament to organizing; President Douglas Knepp said this is the most engaged and high-energy he’s seen members in a long time.
More than 4,000 UESF members have signed their strike-readiness petition. Over 100 schools and work sites have surpassed 80% participation, and an incredible 76% of members—a supermajority—have signed on to say they are willing to strike if necessary.
While UESF amps up their organizing efforts, their bargaining team continue to fight at the table for the schools our students deserve. After 8 months of bargaining, dozens of proposal exchanges, and an expired contract, UESF ended their last bargaining date by declaring impasse. UESF members will continue to organize and build the collective power it will take to win.
On Thursday, October 2, SDEA members participated in Seeing Red Day. Members wore red and sported stickers highlighting their bargaining demands: fully staffed schools, improved pay, and stability for students and communities. While the district simply is not feeling the urgency to address the critical support that educators and their students are missing, the bargaining team continues to apply the pressure at the bargaining table. SDEA members are strong, and tenacious in their righteous fight for the schools their students deserve!
After five bargaining sessions, Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association kicked off their morning walk-in actions at Ball Jr. High and Cypress High. The mornings were joyful and energetic. Members signed posters and stood in solidarity to tell the community that ASTA educators Can't Wait for smaller class sizes, more support staff, and competitive wages!
Morning walk-in's will continue with two school sites every week. To stay up to date on the walk-in schedule, follow @ASTAANAHEIM on Instagram.
On September 16, thousands of educators, food service workers, custodians, teaching assistants, and other education staff picketed together at more than 700 school sites across LAUSD. They made their demands public for the district to invest in the employees who teach and provide services for the hundreds of thousands of LAUSD students, and who work to keep LA schools running.
OEA educators are continuing to fight for stability for Oakland students. Last month, educators led a “fund education, not deportation” button action to demand OUSD prioritize the safety and stability of their most vulnerable students.
Berkeley’s Educators are Ready to Rally
On October 2nd, over 200 BFT members showed up to a school board rally to demand fully staffed and resourced schools. The rally was energetic, inspiring, and unifying. Berkeley Council of Classified Educators (BCCE) joined in solidarity, and even had a BFT organizer screen printing posters! Take a look at their action below:
Twin Rivers United Educators are ramping up pressure and are fully mobilizing towards strike readiness. On October 4th,TRUE, with the help of artist David Solnit, hosted an Art Build to create posters, signs and art that fires up members and builds momentum around their next big action- an all member rally on Tuesday, October 21st!
Our union is urging all members to vote YES on Proposition 50 on Nov. 4 to get out the vote and fight back against an unprecedented power grab by the Trump Administration. There's too much on the line for our students, communities, and public education.
Spread the word with your friends, family, and neighbors about why you’ll be voting Yes on Prop. 50 by recording your own video of support!
