On September 24, UC Berkeley staff, students and faculty will stage a one-day strike in defense of public education and against layoffs, cuts, and tuition increases. Click here to see where you can join them in solidarity.
- Special News
- BREAKING NEWS! Strike date Postponed!
We were notified by the Fact-Finding Neutral that due to the complexity of the issues, he will not have a report ready until the end of March or first week in April. We had anticipated having a fact-finding report by this week. But with this news, it is clear that we will not be "strike legal" on March 24, and must postpone our one-day strike. The Executive Board met tonight, March 8, and set a date of April 22 for our strike. Let’s use this time to keep organizing, hold house meetings, keep the pressure on, build on the momentum from March 4!
- Where Were You On March 4?
What an amazing day! Keep sending your stories and pictures — and also post them to www.standupforschools.org, too, as some of you have already done. It was truly inspiring to see and to hear about all the creative activities you did with your students!
Manny Lopez, Betty Olson-Jones, Julie Palacios
There is money… it’s a question of priorities!
Click here to download a copy of OEA’s new flyer in English, Spanish, and Chinese. "There is money…it’s a question of priorities…" Circulate it widely: at Back to School Night, community meetings, PTA/PTO events, etc. And be sure to distribute it at our October 14 action — click here for the press release.
TEACHERS: SUPPORT YOUR
BARGAINING TEAM!
Wear green and
Join your colleagues Wednesday
5PM RALLY
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Did you know? We are currently in mediation, which will conclude at month’s end! Let’s let the district, mediators and community know that we are concerned, watching and organized! |
OCTOBER 14
PICKET and LEAFLET your parents before school
5PM RALLY before WEDNESDAY’S
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
BE VISIBLE – IT’S YOUR CONTRACT!
Click here for more information on this and other upcoming events, including this Friday’s TGIF and Saturday’s great "I Can Do It" classroom management training.
As you know, the district is conducting a Dependent Verification Audit through November 13 for the health benefit programs. Be sure to make an appointment at 1-800-365-8306 x0 to see an American Fidelity counselor to ensure that benefits for your dependents aren’t terminated January 1, 2010. HBIC insisted that this NOT be a repeat of several years ago when counselors tried to sell insurance plans. You have NO obligation to do anything but show proof of dependents’ eligibility.
Your teacher’s working conditions are your child’s learning conditions!
Settle a fair contract NOW!
On September 9th, OEA members converged in OEA green at the School Board meeting to welcome Dr. Tony Smith as our new Superintendent with a “visual representation” of the instability and lack of respect that was the hallmark of six years of state takeover. Just before Public Comment, OEA members donned masks and shifted seats to show the treatment under state administration of teachers and students as voiceless and faceless, cogs in a wheel, pawns on a chessboard. OEA President Betty Olson-Jones called on Dr. Smith to really see and hear our teachers, to value our experience, and to retain the best of us by settling a fair contract that includes improved working conditions, a livable wage, fully paid health benefits, and respect for our professional expertise. Twenty teachers followed her with poignant and eloquent stories from the trenches – ranging from the absurdity of overtesting Kindergartners to the effects on students of high teacher turnover. Many of these were teachers who haven’t spoken publicly before – many thanks to all of you who so courageously told your stories! We will be organizing more of these mini-demonstrations as our contract struggle continues – and we need YOU!