We don’t have what we need to do our jobs. How do we respond?
Teaching isn’t the same job that it was decades ago. Educators are asked to do more with fewer resources, and here in San Diego, they’re trying to live in an expensive city on wages that have stagnated over the past decades. California has underfunded public education for years, and federal threats and cuts don’t help. As educators we struggle to give our students what they need when we don’t have what we need. Things feel urgent… so educators are considering urgent actions. It’s been decades since SDEA members even proposed a strike, and we’re also doing something that hasn’t been done before in California… participating in a statewide coordinated bargaining campaign to:
- Pressure individual Districts to do whatever they can to invest every dollar in staffing, competitive pay for educators, and safe, stable schools. Here in San Diego, that pressure includes (but isn’t limited to) addressing the District’s violation of our contract when it comes to Special Education staffing.
- Make it clear that the State and Federal governments need to invest more in public education, which is critically underfunded even here in the wealthiest state in the country.
This week, the District held a press conference about Special Education. A lot of their message is exactly what union educators are saying across the state: We need more State and Federal funding, for Special Education and in general. It makes sense that they didn’t invite teachers to speak up at that press conference, because even with a strike vote still underway the message from educators has been clear: San Diego Unified isn’t doing their part when it comes to staffing Special Education. We need them to do better! That will be easier with more funding, but in the meantime we need to invest every dollar we have on today’s students.
Union educators are striking and getting strike-ready across the state:
As part of our coordinated statewide campaign, we’re seeing a wave of strike votes at educator unions, who are showing up to tell their Districts: We Can’t Wait!
- After four days on strike and an outpouring of community support, fellow union educators at United Teachers of Richmond have won their next contract … announcing a tentative agreement with West Contra Costa Unified School District just before 3:00 AM yesterday morning! Read more here & see a visual (and joyful) overview here.
- United Educators of San Francisco just voted to strike for the first time in decades.
Twin Rivers Unified and Madera Unified Teacher Association educators rallied at their District’s board meeting and picketed to show they are ready to strike if needed.
A large mural painted outside the District office in Richmond (Photo from Jana Kadah, Richmondside)
Educator Strikes 101:
As public educators, there are legal rules about when and how we can go on strike. (This is because of just how important our jobs are to make entire economies function! Educator strikes impact the whole community.)
- We can go on strike as a response to Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs) when the District violates our existing contract.
- We can also go on strike when bargaining a new contract, but only after we try our best to come to an agreement through the bargaining process. This includes declaring impasse after bargaining teams stop making progress, and going through a lengthy process of mediation and fact finding to get impartial third party opinions on whether we’ve been bargaining in good faith. This type of strike is also called an economic strike: Often educators will refuse to come back to work until they get their demands met, going without pay in the hopes of significant improvements. (This is what UTR just did.)
While strikes are the ultimate use of our collective power, preparing to strike involves strategic decisions so we can put the right kind of pressure on the right people at the right time. Right now, SDEA is deciding whether or not to use a 1-Day ULP strike to get the District to do the right thing when it comes to Special Education Staffing in our current contract… and to give them a preview of what we are capable of! They need to know that we are willing to show up and stand up for what our students need… no matter what.
Here’s the thing: Members need to decide!
We know we have power, and we’re seeing what could be possible when we use that power. The decision now is whether or not we’ll use that power. SDEA members across the District are voting on a 1-Day ULP strike over SpEd staffing. Next week, the members elected to the SDEA Board of Directors will review the results of the strike vote and decide if the support is strong enough to call a strike in February. Thousands have already voted YES, but votes are still being turned in from many schools where reps are making sure everyone has a chance to vote. Have you voted yet?
- Hear from some members who have voted yes and share your voice here. Especially for members who have never been part of a strike, it’s natural to have questions and uncertainty. Hearing from your fellow educators is important!
- Not sure where and how to vote? Reach out to your site rep or call the SDEA Office if you don’t know who your representative is!
