When it comes to Special Education staffing, we’ve tried everything.
For years, SDEA union educators have done everything possible to push the District to provide our students with disabilities with the support they need. We’ve filed multiple grievances to enforce our contract language, proposed improvements to our contract, rallied at Board meetings, met with Board trustees, and organized alongside families, classified colleagues, and community members. We’ve even bargained for a free credential pathway which helped fill dozens of SpEd vacancies. The core problem remains: Grievances from the last two school years remain unresolved, the District continues to violate our contract, and Special Education remains understaffed. While educators continue to advocate for practical, student-centered solutions, the District continues to violate our contract, labor law, and the rights of our students who deserve more.
SpEd staffing isn’t the only thing we are fighting for, but it’s something urgent for all of us.
When students don’t have enough support, we all feel the impact: Overwhelmed students, burned-out educators, escalating behavior issues, and unsafe conditions in classrooms.
What will convince District leadership to share our urgency? Escalating actions develop our organizing muscles, showing everyone (our fellow members, our school communities, our bosses) that we are getting stronger and we are ready to use that strength to fight for what matters to us: high-quality public education for ALL students.
Strike Readiness is our peak power as a union. Are you ready to use that power?
Strike readiness is the highest level of collective power, and it’s not a step to be taken lightly. It’s time for us to decide: Do we use our power to fight for what our students need?
In October, we put up “I’m Ready” signs in thousands of classrooms all over the district, committing to vote YES on a one-day strike to defend our contract and stand up to the district’s repeated violations of Special Education Staffing.
This week, SDEA site representatives received materials to hold an official strike vote at your next union meeting in November or December. Every SDEA member will have a chance to participate in this democratic process.
Your voice matters!
Even striking for one day is a big decision that impacts all of us… because it addresses issues that also impact all of us. Your ballot will ask whether to authorize the SDEA Board of Directors to call a one-day unfair labor practice strike in February if the District continues to violate our union contract by understaffing Special Education.
We haven’t faced a possible strike in our district in decades, so it’s natural to have questions and uncertainty. We can answer those questions together: Your rep has additional information and FAQs to share. Attend your union meeting, ask questions, discuss with your colleagues, and decide: Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to stand up with your colleagues? Are you ready to say: We Can’t Wait!?
Voting is happening at schools, worksites, and the SDEA union hall from Nov. 6 to Dec. 16. Your site or program’s voting window may be shorter. If you aren’t sure who your union rep is, reach out to the SDEA office!
At Henry HS and Ocean Beach ES, union reps and Contract Action Teams (or CATs!) are ready to make sure every member gets a chance to vote!
