THE VOICE OF THE UNION

April b May 2012 California Volume 65, Number 4 CALIFORNIA TeacherFEDERATION OF TEACHERS, AFT, AFL-CIO

Organizing for the future, educating to succeed PAGE 13

Members oppose Vote for the best: Two-tier fees violate ethnic studies ban CFT picks for June 5 Master Plan Curtailed curricula includes classics Yes on Propositions 28 and 29 Labor opposes Santa Monica proposal PAGE 12 PAGE 4 PAGE 14 California In this issue All-Union News 3 Community College 14 Teacher Pre-K/K-12 12 University 15 Classified 13 Local Wire 16

UpFront Josh Pechthalt, CFT President

Merged measure calls for the largest single tax increase on the rich in California history

e all know the challenge to by the Executive Council last summer nurse in every school. Wmaintain salaries and benefits to maximize CFT resources as well as During this economic crisis, and keep our members working has coordinate our political and organiz- we must be vigilant, watching for never been more difficult. But in spite ing work. attempts by legislators to erode of difficulties, our members and local Through extensive outreach to our seniority protections, weaken our leaders continue to organize and win locals, CFT has identified organiz- pension plans, and promote merit “victories. ing priorities that will help shape the pay schemes. Masquerading as mar- In the face of a disas- direction the union takes ket reforms, these measures would trous state budget and s State of s in coming years. While the subvert the ability of working people those who would turn the Union labor movement continues to improve their lives. public education into to see its ranks decline, CFT, Our members have been active in

GETTY IMAGES GETTY a non-union, low-wage institu- with major support from the AFT, the Occupy Movement, which has tion, your activism and com- is looking to aggressively organize given voice to the demand for change mitment to CFT goals have new members. brought about by the growing eco- made us a leading union in the On the legislative front, CFT cel- nomic disparity in this country. fight for progressive educa- ebrated many successes including pas- CFT has joined with statewide labor tion reform, and economic and sage of the Bilingual Seal of Literacy and community coalitions, such as social justice. and the California Dream Act. We Refund California, to develop a The past year has seen stopped the Legislature from creat- common strategy around a broad major accomplishments and ing a two-tier education system in the progressive agenda. occasional setbacks. One large step community colleges, but that hasn’t forward has been the Strategic Cam- stopped Santa Monica College from A year ago, I ran for president as paign Initiative. The SCI was adopted attempting to do the same. part of a team with Jeff Freitas. You We also had our share of disap- made a wise decision last year to elect pointments. In addition to the debili- Jeff secretary-treasurer. He is smart, EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an adapted tating state budget, we were unable dedicated, and tireless in his com- version of the State of the Union to stop legislation that asks school mitment to CFT. You also elected a address delivered by CFT President JANE HUNDERTMARK employees to administer Diastat. The knowledgeable Executive Council, Josh Pechthalt on April 14 at the Legislature opted to add another bur- and CFT employs one of the best 70th Convention of the California den on the shoulders of untrained staffs in the labor movement. Federation of Teachers. educators rather than place a qualified We talked about energizing our (Continued on page 7)

ON THE COVER The California Federation of Teachers is an affiliate CaliforniaTeacher (ISSN 0410-3556) is published Direct letters or other editorial submissions to the editor. < of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. The four times a year in September/October, November/ Letters must not exceed 200 words and must include Kristia Groves helped research the Education CFT represents faculty and classified workers in public December, February/March and April/May by the your name, address, and phone number. Letters will be Code, comparing job duties and responsibilities and private schools and colleges, from early childhood California Federation of Teachers, 2550 N. Hollywood edited for clarity and length. of 90 employees working in an enrichment Way, Suite 400, Burbank, CA 91505, and mailed to all through higher education. The CFT is committed to EDITORIAL OFFICE program to those of union-represented staff raising the standards of the profession and to securing CFT members and agency fee payers. Annual subscription California Federation of Teachers, 1330 Broadway, in Lawndale. Her work helped the Lawndale the conditions essential to provide the best service to price: $3 (included in membership dues). For others: Federation of Classified Employees organize Suite 1601, Oakland, California 94612 California’s students. $10 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Burbank and Telephone 510-523-5238 Fax 510-523-5262 the workers into their local union. See story PRESIDENT Joshua Pechthalt additional mailing offices. Email [email protected] page 13. SECRETARY TREASURER Jeff Freitas Postmaster: Send address corrections to California Publications Director and Editor Jane Hundertmark Teacher, 2550 N. Hollywood Way, Suite 400, Burbank, PHOTO BY BOB RIHA, JR SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT Lenora Lacy Barnes Contributors this issue: David Bacon, Kenneth Burt, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Velma Butler, Cathy Campbell, CA 91505. Velma Butler, Kelsey Duckett, Patrick Evans, Alayna Fred- Robert Chacanaca, Kimberly Claytor, Melinda Dart, California Teacher is a member of the International ricks, Carl Friedlander, Fred Glass, Elaine Johnson, Laura Warren Fletcher, Betty Forrester, Carl Friedlander, Ray Labor Communications Association and the AFT Com- Kurre, Joshua Pechthalt, Mindy Pines, Gary Ravani, Bob Gaer, Miki Goral, Carolyn Ishida, Dennis Kelly, Jim Mahler, municators Network. It is printed by union workers at Samuels, Malcolm Terence, Sandra Weese Elaine Merriweather, Alisa Messer, David Mielke, Pacific Standard Press in Sacramento using soy-based Graphic Design Kajun Design, Graphic Artists Guild Dean Murakami, Gary Ravani, Francisco Rodriguez, inks on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper that Sam Russo, Bob Samuels, Linda Sneed, Joanne Waddell, contains 10 percent post-consumer recycled content. Carl Williams, Kent Wong, David Yancey

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2 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 around the union… All-Union News

Members take decisive action to pass initiative Political organizers Merged measure calls for the largest single tax call for defeat of increase on the rich in California history Coalition partners praise Millionaires Tax efforts at Convention corporate power grab

On the web The November California ballot Coalition partners from ACCE, will have a measure called “Paycheck >Download a toolkit to help pass the California Calls, and the Courage Protection,” a thinly-veiled attack on the Campaign joined the Convention SHARON BEALS Schools and Local Public Safety Protec- political voice of unions. It would outlaw a discussion. tion Act of 2012 at cft.org. Learn how member’s voluntary paycheck deduction to to fight the Corporate Deception Act at a union’s political action fund. calaborfed.org and abetterca.org. Joel Flores, Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, called it “The Corporate The third panelist was Rick Jacobs, Deception Act” and noted that corpora- leader of the Courage Campaign. He tions already outspend unions 15:1 in described the traditional political politics. He said the measure is Step Two in involvement of unions as an “export a three-step anti-labor campaign led by the of dollars every four years where we wealthiest one percent. forget to focus on progressive issues Step One was to give corporations free for California.” speech via Citizens United, a 2010 Supreme Jacobs said the ordinary power Court decision allowing corporations to CFT AND ITS COMMUNITY part- and whether we changed the elec- arrangement allows big money con- make unlimited political contributions as a ners were well on the way to qualify- torate so it looks more like the state tributors to dictate who has clout in First Amendment right. ing their Millionaires Tax proposal itself.” a coalition. Instead CFT said, even With union opposition crippled, Step for the November ballot when the Thigpenn took part in a panel dis- though money was important, each Three will be seeking more deceptively governor negotiated merg- cussion that looked at the reve- organization is bringing something named “right-to-work” laws. Those laws, ing it with his own. Even nue campaign for the November to the table. All three panelists agreed already in 23 states, prohibit collective bar- though the unified proposal election and the longer-term that it was a breakthrough template gaining agreements that require all mem- is far more progressive than 2012 challenge to Proposition 13, for labor-community partnerships. bers to join a union or otherwise pay dues, the governor’s original, General corporate tax loopholes, and a All three also praised the working allowing employees to get free rides. Election many activists expressed a power structure opposed to sys- relationship with CFT and predicted Janelle Hampton, from the Peralta sense of loss. temic change. that the larger unions — CTA, SEIU Federation of Teachers, suggested tactics One community organizer, describ- Another community partner on the and others — were likely to take more to oppose the Corporate Deception Act ing his group’s reaction, said, “We panel was Christina Livingston from progressive postures in the future. including the went through the seven stages of grief Alliance of Californians for Commu- In his State of the Union address, use of local when we heard the news.” Anthony nity Empowerment who said, “Our following the panel, CFT President newsletters,

Thigpenn, founder and president of members embraced the Millionaires Josh Pechthalt told delegates, “Labor email lists, BEALS SHARON Tax, so it was hard to let it go. But the is strongest when it acts in its own the group California Calls, explained, department new compromise is better than what interest and is not beholden to any “The measure of our success will be and board was originally proposed by the gover- political party. We need to act inde- whether we win with the initiative, meetings, nor so our people are behind it.” pendently and with our allies.” whether we built a broad coalition, and social He said that, while the original media. Millionaires Tax was likely to qualify “If you Delegates pass assessment to fund political action for the ballot, resources were finite find yourself Janelle Hampton and Joel Flores and “a volunteer effort is not yet explained the measure at Convention. CFT MEMBERS ARE GOING INTO the November elections playing offense with in a situa- enough to overcome the tens of mil- their tax proposal and defense to defeat the anti-union Corporate Deception Act, coupled tion where it feels tacky to bring this up,” lions of dollars that would have been with campaigns for president, a senator and many congressional and legislative seats. Hampton advised, “throw off the chains of spent in an opposition campaign.” Thus the first proposal on the floor included an amendment to levy a $2.50 per mem- concern. This issue is worth it.” As part of the compromise, regres- ber monthly assessment for the CFT Committee on Political Education fund. Melinda English teacher Hampton quoted the sive measures in the governor’s plan Dart spoke in support and described her Jefferson Federation of Teachers as “a small poet Bonaro Overstreet who wrote: “You were cut. The “Schools and Local local with no raise and escalating health costs, but we need to elect friendly school say the little efforts I make will do no good; Public Safety Protection Act of 2012” board members and we don’t have wealthy benefactors. I think we should be part of now includes a tax increase on those they never will tip the scale where justice the big discussions like ‘corporate deception.’ That’s the dagger to our heart.” earning over $250,000 per year that hangs in the balance. I don’t think I ever There were counterproposals to lessen the weight of the assessment on lower income will generate $8 billion in revenues in thought they would. But I am prejudiced workers but several speakers pointed out that the union dues structure already works the first year. beyond debate in favor of my right to on a sliding scale. The $2.50 assessment passed without further amendment. choose which side shall feel the stubborn ounces of my might.” SHARON BEALS TOP:

APRIL/MAY 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 3 Vote June 5 Primary election to determine candidate choice in November CFT supports changes to term limits and new tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research

JUNE 5 WILL BE THE first primary industry-related jobs. land or Los Angeles are both likely election held under the new voter- A number of seats are in play in to be Democrats. The same two

approved rules that eliminate par- California. CFT and AFT are working SHARON BEALS candidates who battled in June will tisan primaries in every race to elect more pro-education, likely have to fight it out again in except president. On the bal- pro-labor Democrats to Con- November. lot, voters will select delegates gress, and to defend against In regional races, a number of local to the national political con- 2012 conservative efforts to defeat unions are supporting facility bonds ventions and consider two sig- General good incumbents. The most and parcel taxes as a way to cushion nificant propositions. Election vulnerable CFT-endorsed cuts in state funding of education. Delegates spoke out for favored candidates in CFT and AFT have endorsed incumbent is Lois Capps, who — By Kenneth Burt, CFT Political Director the June 5 primary election at CFT Convention. the reelection of President Obama, represents Santa Barbara and San Luis who has sought to revive the econ- Obispo Counties. nia Legislature due to term limits and omy, invest more in education, and There are a record number of seats the once-a-decade redistricting that CFT says Yes to protect women’s rights, despite deter- that will change hands in the Califor- follows the census. CFT has made Propositions 28 and 29 mined Republican efforts to hobble several endorsements and is ramping the administration. up its organizing because the end of VOTERS WILL HAVE THE oppor- In the Republican primary, likely partisan primaries has increased the tunity to approve two CFT-endorsed nominee Mitt Romney has attacked SHARON BEALS need for volunteer political action. measures on June 5. Proposition 28 will collective bargaining and specifically Under the old system, CFT would alter voter-enacted state legislative term singled out education unions. Rom- support a candidate in a crowded limits and Proposition 29 will impose an ney supported state-level, anti-labor primary in a heavily partisan dis- additional tax on cigarettes. attacks in Ohio and Wisconsin, and trict, where winning the Democratic Prop. 28 will reduce the total number bashed the United Auto Workers for primary was tantamount to being of years a politician can serve in the working with management and the elected in November. Now, the top California Legislature from 14 years to Glenda O’Neal-Foster, from the AFT College federal government to save a million Staff Guild, discusses candidates. two candidates in a district in Oak- 12 years. Individuals will be able serve those 12 years in either house, giving them more time to develop expertise On June 5, your union recommends… and reducing the constant turnover as new members of the Assembly focus on FEDERAL OFFICES running for the Senate. The Los Angeles County Federation of President Barack Obama* 6 Doris Matsui* 16 Jim Costa* 29 Tony Cardenas 41 Mark Takano 7 Ami Bera 17 Mike Honda* 30 Howard Berman* 43 Maxine Waters* Labor and the Los Angeles Chamber of U.S. Senate Diane Feinstein* 8 Jackie Conaway 18 Anna Eshoo* 32 Grace Napolitano* 44 Janice Hahn* Commerce sponsored the measure. U.S. House 9 Jerry McNerney* 19 Zoe Lofgren* 33 Henry Waxman* 45 Sukhee Kang Prop. 29, the California Cancer (By district number) 10 Jose Hernandez 20 Sam Farr* 34 Xavier Becerra* 46 Loretta Sanchez* Research Act, will add a $1 per-pack tax 2 Jared Huffman 12 Nancy Pelosi* 24 Lois Capps* 35 Joe Baca* 47 Alan Lowenthal Norman Solomon 13 Barbara Lee* 26 Julia Brownley 37 Karen Bass* 51 Juan Vargas to the price of cigarettes. This tax will 3 John Garamendi* 14 Jackie Speier* 27 Judy Chu* 38 Linda Sanchez* 52 Lori Saldaña raise more than $700 million annually 5 Mike Thompson* 15 Pete Stark* 28 Adam Schiff* 40 Lucille Roybal-Allard* 53 Susan Davis* for cancer research and public efforts to *Incumbents discourage kids from smoking. Proposition 29 is supported by the STATE OFFICES American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the American California Senate California Assembly 17 Tom Ammiano* 41 Chris Holden 62 Steven Bradford* Lung Association. (By district number) (By district number) 18 Abel Guillen 42 Mark Orozco 63 Anthony Rendon These propositions will be the last 5 Cathleen Galgiani 2 Wes Chesbro* 19 Phil Ting 45 Bob Blumenfield* 64 Isadore Hall, III* statewide measures to appear on a June 7 Mark DeSaulnier* 4 Mariko Yamada* 20 Bill Quirk 48 Roger Hernandez* 69 Julio Perez 9 Loni Hancock* 6 Reginald Bronner 22 Kevin Mullin 49 Edwin Chau 70 Bonnie Lowenthal* ballot. The Legislature voted to return to 11 Mark Leno* 7 Roger Dickinson* 25 Bob Wieckowski* 50 Torie Osborn 77 Greg Laskaris the historic practice of placing proposi- 15 Jim Beall 8 Ken Cooley 27 Nora Campos* 51 Jimmy Gomez 78 Toni Atkins* tions on the November ballot, when a 17 Bill Monning 9 Richard Pan* 28 Paul Fong* 52 Norma Torres* 79 Shirley Weber larger number of people generally go to 19 Hannah-Beth Jackson 10 Mike Allen* 29 Mark Stone 53 John A. Perez* 80 Ben Hueso* the polls. 27 Fran Pavley* 14 Susan Bonilla* 30 Luis Alejo* 56 Manuel Perez* 33 Ricardo Lara 15 Nancy Skinner* 37 Das Williams* 59 Reggie Jones-Sawyer >To learn more about Prop. 28, go to 39 Marty Block 16 Joan Buchanan* 39 Richard Alarcon 61 Jose Medina cafreshstart.com, and for Prop. 29, go *Incumbents to californiansforacure.org. — KB

4 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 Gov. Brown makes a surprise appearance while Sen. Joe Simitian was speaking. PHOTOS BY STEVE YEATER BY STEVE PHOTOS

Members bring local reality to legislators in Sacramento Union brings back Lobby Day to give CFT greater voice in Capitol

GATHERING FOR CFT Lobby Days, vices delivered per person. Lockyer termed-out Senator Joe Simitian members traveled from Southern concluded that more revenues are described his efforts to pass legisla- California, the Central Valley, and the needed to fix California’s problems. tion that created the new transitional Bay Area to ask their elected officials Throughout the day, K-12 teach- kindergarten program for children in Sacramento to do the right thing ers, classified staff, UC lecturers and whose fifth birthday falls after Sep- for public education. librarians and community college tember, but before December. He The state treasurer kicked off the faculty fanned out in the Capitol to described this work, supported by April 24 event. Standing before a speak with their elected officials. CFT, as “one of the three or four most crowd of about 100 educators, Bill Joanne Waddell, president of the important things” he accomplished Lockyer said anti-tax ideologues con- Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Lobbying teams strategized before meeting during his 12 years in the Legislature. with their elected representatives. tinuously tell the public that Cali- led a team of four part-time instruc- But the big moment was a surprise fornia has the highest taxes in the tors to their first meeting. All four drop-in visit by Gov. Jerry Brown. He nation. But in fact California ranks — Kathy Holland, Renee Berg, Tim Their first stop was the office of bemoaned the fact that education has 11th in sales tax rates and 10th in Gilmore and Salvador Sanchez — Senator Alex Padilla. The senator was on the floor in session, but the del- egation told their stories to an aide. As a result of the cuts, Berg said, there are just three class sections offered for a required child development course, so students can’t get in. Gilmore, a counselor and instruc- tor said students can’t get Speaking to CFT members: Senator Ted Liu, Assemblyman Louis Alejo and Senator Curren Price. the classes they need to fulfill corporate taxes. Because of Proposi- their educa- Christy Figueroa, from San Diego, have felt the negative impact of poses a question to her represen- tion 13, property taxes rank 34th in budget cuts brought about by the tional plans, and tative, Assemblyman Marty Block. the nation. Overall, it turns out, Cali- recession, and so have their students. aren’t able to see fornia is a middle-of-the-pack taxing a counselor to “lost so much money and state. The only tax that can be consid- make a new plan is down 23 percent.” Refer- ered high is the one on top-bracket because the ratio ring to the 23rd Psalm, incomes, but this group has doubled of students to Brown said “the bad news its share of total California income. counselors is now CFT lobbyist Dolores Sanchez lays is we’re still in the valley He noted that when Ronald Rea- more than 2,000 out current issues in the Capitol. of darkness.” He thanked gan was governor, the state spent 6.02 to 1. “They are CFT for its work on the percent of personal income on gov- becoming discouraged, and dropping tax initiative and voiced the hope that ernment-provided services. Today that out,” he told the staffer, who prom- our joint efforts would push it across the finish line in November. number is 5.14 percent. That makes Southern California members talk with Assem- ised to tell Padilla what was said. California 46th among states in ser- blyman Jose Solorio, from Anaheim. In one of the day’s highlights, — By Fred Glass, CFT Communications Director

APRIL/MAY 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 5 Pajaro Valley community succeeds in banning carcinogenic methyl iodide

and then to stop methyl iodide from

TEACHERS AT OHLONE Elemen- BACON DAVID replacing it. Through 2011 they tes- tary School were greatly relieved tified at hearings and won the sup- when Arysta LifeScience, a Japanese port of state legislators who called chemical company, announced on for its ban. Over 200,000 people sup- March 20 that it would no longer sell ported prohibition in the EPA’s public methyl iodide in the United States for comment period, and 30,000 signed use as a pesticide. petitions. The United Farm Workers The school sits on the edge of Wat- marched to Sacramento calling for sonville. Long rows of strawberries, labor law reform in the fields, includ- artichokes and brussel sprouts end 30 ing restricting the use of pesticides feet from the playground. Those fields such as methyl iodide. get sprayed with pesticides and every- “The partnership between our one at the school gets a dose. union and migrant students brought When methyl bromide was banned the first resolution to the school board in Pajaro Valley, where it passed unani- CFT calls for CalSTRS Teachers at Ohlone Elementary School are concerned about the drift of methyl iodide, a toxic mously before methyl iodide had been to divest in manufacturer pesticide, from the strawberry fields across the street from the school. approved,” Laskin says. “Our students took it on to the city council.” DELEGATES TO CFT Convention in in 1990, Arysta sold methyl iodide as tion that has fought methyl iodide and Santa Cruz County passed the first 2011 passed a resolution asking the state a substitute soil fumigant for straw- methyl bromide use for years. resolution calling for the ban. Then to do more independent research about berries. Both OSHA and the Centers Teachers worry about the increas- the Monterey County Central Labor the health and environmental impacts of for Disease Control list methyl iodide ing effects of chemical exposure on Council brought it to their Board of methyl iodide use and to “withdraw as a carcinogen. students. Jenny Dowd has worked at Supervisors, traditionally a bastion approval of methyl iodide for use in agri- Nevertheless, the EPA approved it Ohlone Elementary for 18 years. “I’ve of growers’ power. After an attempt cultural production until this research is in 2007. In December 2010, during seen a rise in asthma and behavioral to pull it off the board’s agenda was completed….” the final days of the Schwarzeneg- problems over that time,” the second greeted by public uproar and a pro- The resolution also called on CalSTRS ger administration, the California grade teacher says. “We have more test at an Arysta reception, Monterey to “immediately divest from Permira until Department of Pesticide Regulation kids with autism. There’s more hyper- was forced to pass a resolution. the private equity group sheds its invest- approved it as an “emergency regu- activity among students, attention The public outcry, together with ment in Arysta LifeScience, or directs that firm to stop manufacturing methyl iodide for agricultural use.” According to “We know that methyl iodide causes birth defects, DAVID BACON DAVID CalSTRS, its Divestment Policy requires but we also suspect it is having far-reaching effects staff to investigate the issue, the invest- ment, the risks involved, and to engage on students, and on teachers.” directly with management. — Jenn Laskin, Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers In an email to CFT, CalSTRS said, “We were not able to ‘sell’ or ‘divest’ of the lation.” Just three months later the span problems and chronic respi- Japanese chemical company that made department’s chief regulator went to ratory infections.” Dowd adds, “If I High School teacher Jenn Laskin helped in the the product or the product itself since we work for chemical giant Clorox Corp. could, I’d monitor every field next to effort to ban use of methyl iodide. did not own a direct interest in the firm. Despite a lawsuit filed on Janu- every school.” Our exposure to the company was in the ary 5, 2011, challenging the approval, Watsonville is a major growing the discovery of corporate influ- form of a Partnership, which owns over 10 methyl iodide application began in region so there are many children ence over staff scientists at DPR, had different companies and by its investment Fresno County in May 2011. of farm workers. Gonzalo Herrera, an effect on the court case. Alameda structure is very illiquid.” Nonetheless, “We know that methyl iodide causes who teaches kindergarten at Ohlone, County Superior Court Judge Frank “the company decided to discontinue sell- birth defects,” says Jenn Laskin, griev- explains, “Their moms and dads come Roesch said the approval had been ing [methyl iodide] in the United States for ance officer for the Pajaro Valley Fed- home with pesticides in the dust on “cobbled together” and that “no evi- a number of reasons.” eration of Teachers, Local 1936. “But their clothes. When their kids hug dence” justified it. The company’s —Jane Hundertmark, Editor we also suspect it is having far-reach- them, they get exposed.” lawyer then said, “Arysta, even if it >To learn more about the ing effects on students, and on teach- Local 1936 joined other unions and wanted to, could not sell this product Partnership, go to calstrs.org and click ers.” Laskin and a group of Local 1936 the Pesticide Action Network, first to in the state of California any longer.”

TOP LEFT: JANE HUNDERTMARK, TOP RIGHT: DAVID BACON DAVID RIGHT: TOP JANE HUNDERTMARK, LEFT: TOP on Quarterly Private Equity report. members are part of a broad coali- get the methyl bromide ban enforced, — By David Bacon, CFT Reporter

6 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 Pajaro Valley community succeeds in WHERE WE STAND banning carcinogenic methyl iodide Your commitment has shaped CFT into a leader of progressive reform

(Continued from page 2) movement would have carried the union to resist the budget attacks and Millionaires Tax. CFT will be active in the assault on public education. We that emerging movement, but it will talked about building political power not be forged in one election cycle. by forging alliances with community The merged measure is not every- partners. Both of those ideals have thing we wanted. It retains a small guided us during the past year, in our regressive element and has no per- work on the Millionaires Tax and the manent income tax increase on the new merged tax initiative. wealthy. But the income tax increase The importance of working with measure early on, as other unions did, on individuals making more than our key community partners, Cali- the governor would have had no rea- $250,000 per year will generate $8 fornia Calls, ACCE and the Courage son to minimize the regressive ele- billion in the first year alone, the larg- Campaign, cannot be overstated. We ments or increase the progressive est single tax increase on the rich in are broadening this coalition to tackle portions. As a result of our work, Cali- California history. issues such as Proposition 13 and fornia now has a stronger, more pro- The seven years of increased development of a grassroots cam- gressive measure. That is the strength income tax revenue will give us time paign to reform education. of CFT working in coalition. to push for needed changes such as Our work on the Millionaires Tax The abrupt end of the Millionaires ensuring that commercial property has built a solid foundation for the Tax came as a shock and owners pay taxes based on future and taught us valuable les- was a major disappoint- s State of s fair market value. Working ment for many people in the the with our community part- state. While the new merged Union ners, CFT can help build the measure is a huge victory for CFT kind of political power nec- and our partners, we could have done essary to take on these issues. some things differently in the process No union has used its resources of compromise. We will learn from this more effectively, or wisely, than CFT. experience and we will get better. We are willing to dig a little deeper and The Millionaires Tax resonated with support our political work. We can the public, but in assessing our abil- defeat the Corporate Deception Act ity to move forward we had to weigh ballot measure this November, a power our capacity to wage a successful cam- grab that would hand over the politi- sons. One year ago Gov. Brown called paign. We could have qualified the cal process to corporations and the for a Special Election to raise rev- measure for the ballot, but we were wealthy. We cannot let that happen. enue by regressive taxation. Because unlikely to marshall resources beyond Your vision, your activism, and of our efforts, and the simultaneous what CFT, AFT, and our community your continued dedication to union- emergence of the Occupy and Stu- partners could provide to run even a ism have caused the governor of the dent Movements, the governor finally minimal campaign. Throughout this largest state in the United States to agreed to work with us on a merged effort, we had strong backing from the do the right thing. For your commit- tax initiative. AFT and President Randi Weingarten. ment to making CFT a leading force The new measure is an overwhelm- Some believed that even a symbolic for progressive change in Califor- ingly progressive income tax measure, effort would have been worth pursu- nia, you have earned the admiration the most ambitious in California his- ing, but a symbolic initiative with min- of union and community activists tory. No major union in California imal resources to win would have been throughout the nation. but CFT took the lead in this effort. politically and financially irrespon- Not bad for what the press described sible. Others have speculated that the as a “backwater union.” populist nature of the tax-the-wealthy Labor is strongest when it acts in its measure and the growing political own interests and is not beholden to ” any political party. That doesn’t mean we don’t work with elected leaders, only that we build power indepen- dently and with our community allies. Had CFT signed on to the governor’s

APRIL/MAY 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 7 JANE HUNDERTMARK CONVENTION 2012 JANE HUNDERTMARK

members march

Top leaders Josh Pechthalt, Jeff Freitas, and Lacy Barnes. Educators and San Jose workers join One-Mile March for Fairness

s delegates flooded into the ball- with buttons from past campaigns. disenfranchised.” Aroom of The Fairmont San Jose, Calling cadence and marching in Jose Aguirre wore a jacket embla- they met a do-it-yourself sign fac- tight formation, the ILWU Drill Team zoned with “Laborers International tory set up on long tables. There were leaned forward in a synchronized Union.” He had received an email blank posterboards and enough col- freeze and called out the picket line from his Local 270 and knew it was ored markers to supply a dozen kin- ditty, “We are the union, the mighty, important to come. Other line moni- dergarten classrooms. mighty union.” tors came from SEIU, Communica- To prepare for the day’s march and Taking their cue, delegates grabbed tion Workers, Electricians, AFSCME, rally, delegates wrote signs that said their new signs and headed for the The ILWU Drill Team led the march in San Jose. UCFW, IATSE and others. it all. I paid more in taxes than Rom- exits. Time to march. Outside it was One member of SEIU, Jorge Con- ney. Already slashed to the bone. Sup- overcast and windy with a 90 per- years. His third extension of unem- treras, was using the event to collect port unions, support workers. And the cent chance of rain. Street monitors ployment benefits will expire soon. signatures for the unified tax initia- classic: Tax the rich. Signs defended in orange safety vests stopped traffic. His stepson just finished college sad- tive that combined the governor’s worker pensions, decried tuition While nearly 400 people crossed the dled with huge student debt. Even proposal with the Millionaires Tax. increases, layoffs and cutbacks, derided street, the halted motorists read signs though he landed a job, Petrosky said, The One-Mile March for Fairness the Corporate Deception Act, and sup- like Fund schools, not jails. Many “at his wages he’ll be hand-to-mouth ended with a rally at a park near the ported the 99 percent. waved and honked support. for 10 years.” hotel. As it drew to a close, the skies After the first 90 minutes of Con- Monitor Peter Petrosky got the call Frank Espinoza, a counselor from opened up and poured down rain. vention business, six men and women from his union, Carpenters Local 405. the San Jose/Evergreen Faculty Asso- The hundreds of workers turned their entered the ballroom wearing white More than 300 journeymen in his ciation said, “We’re out here try- signs into umbrellas and hurried off dockworker hats and jackets adorned local have been out of work for two ing to make a difference for the to find shelter.

Students mobilize spent the next 61 days in a privately-owned prison in Arizona and was released only about minimum wage, after a public campaign that included the tax fairness and the efforts of AFT Local 2121. Many of the students speak out estimated 25,000 undocumented stu- Dream Act Shannell Williams Steve Li Lila McCabe Charlie Eaton dents who graduate from high school in California every year, “live every day fear- uring the Student Speak Out, the wage laws, started focus groups and We occupy. Our calls are returned.” ing deportation,” Li said. Dnext generation of firebrand organiz- formed a coalition. By April 13, they had Shannell Williams, a student body officer Moderator Kent Wong from UCLA, said ers inspired delegates with student-led collected 35,814 signatures to qualify a from City College of San Francisco, char- state law has long required immigrant campaigns that are making a difference. measure for the November ballot that will acterized the recommendations from the students to attend K-12 school and the Lila McCabe, vice president of the raise the minimum wage from $8 to $10 Student Success Task Force as “No Adult newly-passed California Dream Act finally Campus Alliance for Economic Justice at per hour in San Jose. Left Behind.” Williams said the proposals makes them eligible for financial aid in San Jose State, said their campaign began Charlie Eaton, an Occupy activist at UC would strip her of education opportunities college. After college, they are not allowed when four students in an economics class Berkeley, credited CFT with “going to the because she re-entered community college to work legally, which Wong says creates concluded it would take an entire day’s wall for progressive taxes.” Saying a lot in her mid-20s. “a new apartheid” for the estimated 2 earnings at minimum wage to fill the gas has changed in a year, Eaton saluted the Fellow student Steve Li recounted the million students across the country in Li’s tank of an average car. Occupy Wall Street movement: “When we morning when five black-clad immigra- situation. Attempts to pass a national The students researched minimum go to the Capitol, we don’t beg anymore. tion agents arrested him at his home. He Dream Act have stalled in Congress. “Everywhere we go, People want to know, Who we are. So we tell them, ‘We are the union, the mighty, mighty union.’” 8 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 REPORTING BY MALCOLM TERENCE PHOTOS BY SHARON BEALS

CONVENTION 2012 delegates debate Delegates debate and pass resolutions

he floor action of resolution debate Tis like the NCAA basketball playoffs. Some resolutions are slam-dunks, but oth- ers are as contested as the closest elimi- nation game, with the added frisson of members march parliamentary trash-talk. Through it all, the discussion remains doggedly democratic. ­­Here is what the delegates passed: speakers inspire Resolution 1 asks for stable, adequate and equitable funding for adult education. Fletcher places education unions at the epicenter of change Resolution 2 opposes excessive district ending balances and calls them harmful to students, employees and communities. uthor and activist Bill Fletcher ing the retreating Confederates. The He told del- Resolution 4 calls for CFT to sponsor Areturned to CFT Convention to Confederates quickly recovered and egates, “Educa- legislation requiring that non-unionized say that the union has a critical role counterattacked. tion unions are workers get written notice of changes in to play for the entire country, not just “In 2008, we were in the crater. Fox ideally placed working conditions. for its members. His message so reso- News did not know how to explain – sitting at the Resolution 10 calls for CFT to sponsor nated that, throughout the Conven- Obama’s victory,” he explained. “The epicenter of legislation providing multiple paths to tion, delegates making all manner of conservative forces were in complete community special education authorizations. arguments cited his speech like evan- disarray. We sat back and waited for groups — to Resolution 12 calls for districts with gelists quoting scripture. Obama to deliver. We thought we had lead such com- Bill Fletcher dual-immersion biliteracy programs to Fletcher’s core message was that elected Merlin the Magician. Mean- munity alliances. adopt the Guiding Principles for Dual progressives squandered an oppor- while, the other side regrouped.” This agenda is not created in the leg- Language Education. tunity when Obama was elected Fletcher cited the personal experi- islative department of some union. in 2008. He likened it to the 1864 ence of his mother being a teacher This is about engaging the rank-and- Resolution 17 opposes the recommenda- Battle of the Crater, where Union in New York. “Teacher unions did file so it becomes their agenda.” tions of the Student Success Task Force. troops in the Civil War exploded a an incredible job for their members Himself a member of several unions Resolution 18 calls for including ESL mine to blow a hole in the Confeder- – my mother has a very good pen- and a former staffer for the AFL-CIO, teachers in policy formation regarding ate defense. But when Union troops sion. But the union stopped fight- Fletcher referred to Samuel Gompers, English Language Learners in the commu- entered the vast crater, they marveled ing, stopped being at the vanguard; it the 19th century founder of the AFL. nity colleges. at the carnage rather than attack- didn’t build community alliances.” “Exorcising Gompers’ ghost is what is Resolution 22 calls on Congress and the called for today and that’s a repudia- president to reduce military spending and Pulitzer-prize winner predicts the rich will get richer tion of special interest unionism.” redirect funds to public services at home. Gompers was not thinking of Resolution 24 opposes Arizona’s ban on Mexican-American Studies and the state’s avid Cay Johnston, an investigative we have pensions?’ leading a fight for economic justice, SB 1467, which would punish teachers for reporter for Reuters, won a 2001 but ‘Why don’t you Fletcher said, he was trying to improve D profane speech. (See story page 12) Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the tax have them?’” the lives of the people who were lucky system while writing for the New York Our nation’s enough to be in a labor union. Resolution 30 calls for adoption of the Times. He showed how the top 10 percent founders did not “To get ourselves out of this, we Educator Evaluation Principles developed of income earners in 1973 had a one- trust corporations, must rethink trade unionism. In by a task force of the CFT EC/K12 Council. third share of national income. Their share Johnston explained. 2008, labor needed to be clear about Resolution 31 reaffirmed rank-and-file is now 48 percent and Johnston predicts David Cay Johnston “They believed that what it wanted from the administra- democracy in the CFT. it will soar well above 50 percent as the corporations evolved to serve the state, tion. Labor needed its own program stock market recovers. but now the state serves the corporations. — not just a program for teachers, Johnston warned about the rich We have a Supreme Court that ignores or postal carriers, or machinists — a advancing the myth that pensions are history and makes up its own as exempli- program for economic social justice.” a gift to workers. “Pensions are earned fied by theCitizens United case that gives — they are deferred income.” He chal- the entire universe to corporate power.” >Watch for Fletcher’s forthcoming lenged those jealous of public employee >Read David Cay Johnston at blogs. book, ‘They’re Bankrupting Us’ and pensions: “The question is not ‘Why do reuters.com/david-cay-johnston. Twenty Other Myths about Unions, from Beacon Press. “Everywhere we go, People want to know, Who we are. So we tell them, ‘We are the union, the mighty, mighty union.’” APRIL/MAY 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 9 A historic moment: President Josh Pechthalt with former presidents Marty Hittelman, Miles Myers and Mary Bergan.

Paul Fong and Tom Ammiano named Legislators of the Year

FT Legislators of the Year Paul Fong is carrying CFT-sponsored CFong and Tom Ammiano both AB 852 which would grant commu- scored 100 percent on the union’s nity college part-timers rights of first report card for the 2011 legislative year. refusal in their faculty service areas. awards Assemblymember Paul Fong told “The power I have is your power,” Award winner Butler with family members. delegates that education is under Fong said. He serves on several com- attack and he has a vested interest in mittees including Higher Education Velma Butler honored the outcome. “I carry your values,” and Career Technical Education and he said. “Every day when I wake up I Workforce Development. with CFT Women in know I’ll be a faculty member again Fong’s district is in the South Bay. Education Award when I get out of the Legislature.” Before election to the Assembly, he An early supporter of the Million- was a political science professor at very day, Velma Butler witnesses the aires Tax, he noted that the merged Evergreen Valley College and a com- E“whole village” that is necessary to proposal was more CFT’s than the munity college trustee. He is a mem- support a community college student. governor’s and called the new tax ber of the San Jose/Evergreen Faculty Butler, who received the CFT Women in proposal “Millionaires Tax II.” Association. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano Education Award, sees it in one classified Like Fong, Tom Ammiano was a worker giving a student lunch money and teacher before entering politics. He tax. The split would end the tax in another who loans a student her phone was also a stand-up comic, experience breaks enjoyed by commercial prop- for an important call. that plays well in the Assembly. erties under the state’s Proposition Butler is president of the CFT Council of Ammiano gained prominence for 13, but leave in place protections for Classified Employees and the AFT College his opposition to the Briggs Amend- residential properties. Staff Guild, which represents 1,000 cleri- ment in the late 1970s, which would Ammiano has been a reliable critic cal-technical workers in the 10-campus Los have banned gays from teaching. of Prop. 13, the 1978 measure that Angeles Community College District. Ammiano told delegates, “When froze property tax rates and made As she accepted the award, Butler said we talked about gay teachers, I said, other state and local tax increases she was the fifth of seven children and the ‘Show me a room of teachers and I’ll require a two-thirds vote for passage. daughter of a laborer in Memphis. “I am show you a gay bar.’” “I just hope I live long enough to see also a product of the California commu- When introducing Ammiano, the mother die,” he told the delegates, nity college and CSU systems, and I know Dennis Kelly, president of United who couldn’t stop laughing during the importance of public education, free Educators of San Francisco, praised his acceptance speech turned stand- education. If education becomes available Ammiano’s support for a split-roll up routine. only to people with six-digit incomes, then Assemblymember Paul Fong where will our children go?” Butler’s first experience with a union was not a good one, she recalled. “Although they did not do what they were Hittelman attains CFT’s highest honor: The Ben Rust Award supposed to,” she said, “the experience gave me the desire to learn everything about the union. I read the contract over arty Hittelman likened the task Students for a Democratic Society and over. A collective bargaining agree- Mof changing society to the math and participatory democracy, influ- ment is a beautiful thing.” symbol for square root. This math ences that led him to support shared She reeled off the benefits her union teacher turned labor leader, who governance in the community col- has won for classified employees in Los served four years as CFT president, leges where he spent most of his Angeles including education incentives turned his acerbic focus on himself to teaching life. and paid family medical leave. Then she accept CFT’s highest honor. Hittelman recounted traveling to described how her union has given back to Hittelman explained to the large Berkeley with his older brother for the larger community through food bank crowd at the Ben Rust Award lun- the founding of the precursor to the drives and donating clothes to women just cheon that he climbed into leadership Free Speech Movement. There he released from prison. first as the elected president of his spoke to students and became hooked “Union work,” she concluded, “is local, Immediate past eighth grade Civics Club, which he on rabble-rousing. president Marty political, family and women’s work.” described as a group of left-wing kids. He quoted Abraham Lincoln and Hittelman accepts He confessed that he had an inter- Malvina Reynolds, the 1960s era folk- the Ben Rust Award. nal conflict between his shyness and singer. He explained that the square his leadership. “I grew up with a root symbol has the same base as the very strong disrespect for authority. word “radical” and concluded, “Radi- It isn’t nice to block the doorway, It I never did like the idea of bosses or cal change is the opposite of cosmetic isn’t nice to go to jail, being bossed around.” change.” There are nicer ways to do it, But the He became an adult in the era of And the Malvina Reynolds quote? nice ways always fail.

10 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 The One-Mile March for Fairness started in sunshine and ended in downpour. Around CFT

Want Registrationto make positive socialAugust 13 –change? 17, 2012 • At the University ofConsider California Los Angeles attending the Mark your Calendar Register now! Registration Deadline is June 4

Online Registration: To register electronically for the CFT Union Course Selection Select your course of study for the week by placing a Summer School, please go to www.cft.org and click on Training. “1” on the line to the left of that course. Please indicate a second and third Credit card payment is acceptedfirst for the online registration. CFTchoice in theUnion event that your first choice is canceled Summeror filled, place a “2” School in August and “3” on the line to the left of that course. Division Councils of the CFT meet Paper Registration: If you encounter a problem with the electronic See course descriptions for additional information on each class. The equips local leaders with the powerful skills registration process, you may complete this registration form and mail it CFT Union Summer School ___ Winning the Best Contract: Collective Bargaining with the appropriate registration fee to the address at the bottom. For May 18 at the Hilton Oakland Airport. to organize successful campaigns, expand union membership, involve members in union activities, increase & Contract Campaigns multiple registrations, you must duplicate this form and complete a separate the union’s political power, and establish excellent representation and collective bargaining programs. form for each registrant. Make checks payable to California Federation ___ A Voice at the Worksite: Effective Problem-Solving & Grievance Handling All members are welcome to attend. of Teachers–Union SummerARE School. Questions? YOU If you have questions, MOTIVATED TO BE A The program is geared toward The program is geared for emerging and veteran leaders who want to take their skills to the next level. The call the CFT Training Department at 714-754-6638. ___ A Strong Local Union: Building Power Through Organizing ___ Power of the People: Political Action in 2012 week will be filled with rigorous workshops, motivated and skilled trainers, and applied learning. There will Only one registrant per form, please. State Council meets the following UNION LEADER?___ Treasurer Training:Organize Financial Stewardship & Leadershipsuc for- emerging leaders and veteran lead- be ample opportunity to share best practices with local leaders from across the state and to find inspiration Name______a Strong Local Union in one another’s work. Male Female CFT Union day, May 19, at the Hilton. cessful campaigns?Registration Build Rates commu- ers who want to take their skills to Local Number______Single occupancy, no parking: $750 per person Join us for this exciting, week-long, union leadership program! Local Name (Spell out full name of local—no acronyms please) Double occupancy, no parking: $525 per person Summer School ______nity partnerships? Negotiate winning the next level. The leadership devel- With Parking Permits Cast your vote in the Primary Single Occupancy & Parking: $805 per person Role in Union______Teaching powerful skills to build strong unions contracts? Keep the Double Occupancy union’s & Parking: $580 per person financial opment offered at CFT Union Sum- Constituency (Check one) Election on June 5. Double Occupancy: You have an option for roommate ___ Early Childhood/Head Start selection. If you have selected a double, please indicate the name ___ K-12 Certificated records? If yes, thenin the blank below. the We must have new requests for housing CFT with another mer School is a critical ingredient for ___ K-12 Classified participant at this time. Assign roommate to me. Sharing room ___ Private School K-12 with the following registrant: Application deadline for continuing ___ Charter School K-12Union Summer School is for you. building strong democratic unions ______Community College Faculty ___ Community College Classified college students to apply for a CFT ___ University of California Coming AugustParking Do13-17 you need a reserved spaceat for UCLA,a car? YES NO that can achieve gains for educators, ___ Private College/University If yes, please note this in the above registration portion. A campus parking August 13–17 ___ Adult Education - K-12 permit is $55 for the week. Parking permits will only be ordered for those Raoul Teilhet Scholarship is July 1. participants that have paid for a permit at the time of registration. ___ Adult Education –the CC union training boasts rigorous students, and communities. ___ Private Sector Other at UCLA Special Requirements Summer Contact Informationweek-long courses,Do you require skilled any special rooming accommodations? trainers, YES NO Scholarships are available and If YES, please incate: AFT TEACH Summer Academy, Street Address______Do you have any dietary restrictions or other needs of which we should be City______applied learning, aware? andYES NO evening If YES, please indicate: work- applications are due May 29. The the national union’s professional State______Register online at www.cft.org (click on Training) or mail completed Zip______shops. There willRegistration be Form andample payment to: opportu- deadline to register for CFT Union development academy, formerly called Main summer phone number______CFT Union Summer School Secondary summer phone number______California Federation of Teachers nity to share best2900 Bristolpractices Street, C-107 with your Summer School is June 4. ER&D, will be held July 10-18 at Email (one that you check frequently in the summer) Costa Mesa, CA 92626 ______colleagues fromAttention: around Eva Kappen the state and Register online at www.cft.org !If you are interested in attend- the Maritime Institute in Linthicum, to find inspiration in one another’s top-notch representation and collec- ing CFT Summer School, talk to your Maryland. Learn more at aft.org. work. tive bargaining programs. local union leaders. Download the AFT Convention, the most important The program will focus on building You can sign up for one of five program brochure and register online policymaking body of the AFT, will be skills to expand union membership, week-long courses: Winning the Best at cft.org. To request a scholarship held July 27-30 at the COBO Center in involve members in union activi- Contract, Having Voice at the Work- application, phone the Costa Mesa Detroit, Michigan. Important resolutions, ties, increase political power, build site, Building a Strong Local Union, Field Office at (714) 754-6638 or constitutional amendments, as well community partnerships, organize Power of the People, and Treasurer’s email [email protected]. as the election of the AFT president, successful campaigns, and establish Training. secretary treasurer, executive vice president and 43 vice presidents, will be in the hands of the delegates. Delegates to the AFL-CIO Convention also will be elected. Learn more at aft.org.

2012 high school senior scholarship recipients Union Summer School, a new pro- gram of the CFT, will be held August Raoul Teilhet 13-17 at UCLA. The week-long train- Melody Dahlgren, daughter of Susan Dahlgren, Alyssa Petersen, daughter of Lorri Petersen, ing offers five courses plus evening SCHOLARSHIPS Santa Cruz Council of Classified Employees Evergreen Federation of Teachers classes. To learn more, go to cft.org Alexandria Fredsholm, daughter of Katherine Alexi Pyles, daughter of Cathy Pyles, Los or contact the Training Department at Wallace, Lompoc Federation of Teachers Angeles College Faculty Guild THE CFT RAOUL TEILHET Scholarship (714) 754-6638. (See full story at left.) Program awarded scholarships to 23 high Natalie Girshman, daughter of Helen Ogilvie, Isabel Reeder, daughter of Marla Burg, Ventura school seniors planning to attend institu- Jefferson AFT Federation of Teachers County Federation of College Teachers Committees of the CFT meet tions of higher learning. The scholarship Clara Hartman, daughter of Miriam Kaplan, Emily Schefke, daughter of Judith Schefke, September 22 in Oakland. Greater Santa Cruz Federation of Teachers United Teachers Los Angeles recipients are listed below with the name Division Councils of the CFT meet of the parent or guardian who is a mem- Glynis Kincaid, daughter of Shelly Kincaid, Janae Stewart, daughter of Beverly Stewart, September 28 at The Westin Los Petaluma Federation of Teachers San Jose/Evergreen Faculty Association ber of an AFT local union. Angeles. State Council meets the Applications are now being accepted Mark Lutgen, son of Daniel and Jayne Lutgen, Camille Stout, daughter of Lori Stout, following day, September 29 at from continuing college students through Poway Federation of Teachers Carpinteria Association of United School The Westin. Employees July 1. Recipients will be announced Gabriel Michaels, son of Stacy Michaels, United The event of the year for classified prior to the fall semester. To obtain an Teachers Los Angeles Lev Tauz, son of Elena Tauz, AFT College Staff Guild-Los Angeles employees and paraprofessional application, go to cft.org and click on Marika Miner, daughter of Tom Miner, Los Rios members of the CFT, the Classified Scholarships, or phone the CFT Costa College Federation of Teachers Megan Veach, daughter of Robert Veach, North Monterey Federation of Teachers Conference, will be held October Mesa office, (714) 754-1514, to have Khalif Moore-Stevenson, son of Chanita 26-28 at the Double Tree in San Jose. one mailed to you. Stevenson, Berkeley Council of Classified Kortney Whaley, daughter of Jody Whaley, Employees Santa Paula Federation of High School Teachers Plan now to attend! Zoe Altenberg, daughter of Edward D. Alyssa Neumann, daughter of Genevieve Tanner Wrout, son of Jeffrey and Lori Wrout, Cast your vote in the General Altenberg, Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Neumann, Galt Federation of Certificated and Oxnard Federation of Teachers and School Election on November 6. Allen Colborn, son of Isaline Colborn, Ojai Classified Employees Employees Federation of Teachers Nicholas Perkins, son of Magda Noffal-Perkins, Ojai Federation of Teachers TOP: JANE HUNDERTMARK TOP:

APRIL/MAY 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 11 Delegates spoke passionately in opposition to the Arizona ban. Pre-K and K-12

Arizona outlaws core Mexican-American Studies program Tucson High School teacher recounts story of textbook and curricula ban

A FEW DAYS BEFORE SHE trav- sion, we can readily see that it’s not an eled to CFT Convention in San Jose, accurate history.” María C. Federico Brummer

María C. Federico Brummer received SHARON BEALS Last summer, before the program detailed the events leading to the an email at 8 p.m. from the Tucson statewide ban and described its was banned, Huppenthal hired Cam- Unified School District. It contained a devastating effects on students bium Consulting to validate his critique list of newly banned books that the dis- and educators. but the group’s audit report concluded trict wanted packed by noon the next that the program did not violate state day. During class, her students watched law. He discounted the report. her comb the cabinets and remove Brummer said many school board classroom sets of the affected titles. meetings have been tumultuous. Police She packed Shakespeare’s The in riot gear search people as they enter. Tempest, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Students have tied themselves together. Eye, Howard Zinn’s A People’s History Just three days before she left the state, of the United States, Rudolfo Anaya’s the long-time head of the banned pro- poetry collection Take the Tortillas gram was dismissed. After an April 2 Out of Your Poetry (a title included interview with board member Michael in the National Common Core Stan- Hicks on The Daily Show, students dards) and every textbook dealing now give out burritos before meetings. with Mexican-American history. Hicks said on the show that faculty Brummer’s students are 60 per- members were serving burritos in class cent Latino and 25 percent white. dropout rate. In 1998, the Tucson Uni- lenged students to academic excellence. as indoctrination. The high school once suffered a high fied School District began a Mexican- She shared a Mayan philosophy called And the Arizona Legislature has American Studies program, in part “En Lak Ech” used in the program. It more in the pipeline. SB 1202 would as response to a court desegregation concludes, “Si te amo y respeto/ If I GARY RAVANI order. Within a few years, 97 percent love and respect you, Me amo y res- COUNCIL PRESIDENT > of the program’s students were gradu- peto yo/ I love and respect myself.” Return to real reform ating and 70 percent were continuing Yet Superintendent of Public to higher education. Instruction John Huppenthal Self-styled education reformers Arizona responded in 2010 by told Amy Goodman on the advocate cheap fixes: value-added passing House Bill 2281, legislation NPR show Democracy Now! methodology, merit pay, and school that outlawed the Mexican-American that the classes were “promot- closure are all ideas that have no BANNED basis in research. Studies program. When the govern- ing ethnic solidarity in ways Two programs proven to have merit ing board of Tucson Unified balked at that are really intolerable in an are the Perry Preschool Program and the new law, the state superintendent educational community.” the Tennessee STAR (Student Teacher threatened to cut $14 million in dis- Huppenthal called the program Achievement Ratio) Program. trict funding. The Tucson board caved. an indoctrination. “In no way, shape rescind a credential if the teacher In Perry, Michigan, during the early Brummer, a high school govern- or form are we banning any kind of used partisan speech in the class- 1960s, three- and four-year olds from ment teacher of 14 years, told her story books or any kind of viewpoint from room. SB 1203 would require any high-poverty environments were at a workshop on April 13. The follow- the classroom,” he said. “But we are supplemental reading in the class- divided randomly into groups receiving ing day delegates passed a resolution saying that if all you’re teaching these room to be posted online. SB 1467 high quality preschool or no preschool. opposing Arizona’s ban on Mexican- students is one viewpoint, one dimen- would adopt FCC standards of Tennessee’s STAR randomly placed American Studies and supporting a speech decency for all teachers. students in smaller classes (13 to 17 student’s right to a well-rounded and CFT is not alone in opposing students) or in regular classrooms. On the web culturally rich education. the ban. The California Legislature Both programs proved empirically >Read the complete list of banned books passed a resolution supporting ethnic that increased academic achievement The state of Arizona has long been at goo.gl/4vq5I is sustainable, resulting in higher grad- a Petri dish for reactionary ideas, such study programs. It says the actions uation rates, fewer underage pregnan- as refusing to recognize Martin Luther >View The Daily Show segment at in Arizona, “distort our hallmark as goo.gl/JQKDU cies, and, in adulthood, lower arrest King’s birthday as a holiday, setting up a diverse nation and mischaracterize rates and increased earning power. It’s its own immigration enforcement sys- >Learn about the new documentary educational curricula that affirm this Precious Knowledge at dosvatos.com. way past time to put real reform back tem, and now eliminating successful diversity as reverse racism, hatred and into our school reform. curricula in public schools. >Donate to a legal defense fund at ethnocentrism.”

TOP: SHARON BEALS TOP: saveethnicstudies.org. Brummer said the program chal- — By Malcolm Terence, CFT Reporter

12 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 Many delegates to Convention sported Obama endorsements. Classified

Arizona outlaws core Mexican-American Studies program Lawndale organizes workers in afterschool program Tucson High School teacher recounts story of textbook and curricula ban District voluntarily recognizes 90 workers who provide enrichment to district students

MORE THAN 90 ACADEMIC community partnerships, manage par- similar to those of instructional sup- move forward,” she says. “The union support employees staffing a success- ent volunteers, and provide resource port positions in the district. gives everyone a voice. Union protec- ful extracurricular program in the information to families and staff. The local presented the signed tion allows us to ask questions and Lawndale Elementary School District Kristia Groves, an activities special- cards to the Lawndale district dur- not be afraid.” recently joined the ranks of the AFT, ist at Will Rogers Middle School, said ing contract negotiations, and within Andrew Sanchez, an activities spe- granting them the same workplace the RAP employees approached Local hours, the district recognized the cialist at Mark Twain Elementary, rights as unionized classified employees 4529 because they wanted the same workers as part of the union. agrees. Before winning representa- in the Los Angeles County K-8 district. benefits as the union-represented With union recognition, the RAP tion, “we felt like a stepchild of the “The services these workers provide classified employees in the district. employees gained basic rights such as district,” he explained. “We wanted to are as essential as those provided by be fully embraced, to have the same instructional assistants and support rights as other district employees, and personnel in the district,” says Carl Wil- Kristia Groves is an strengthen how RAP is perceived.” liams, president of Lawndale Federa- BOB RIHA JR activities specialist in the As a result of its success, the Lawn- tion of Classified Employees, AFT Local successful enrichment dale Federation received an award program at Lawndale. 4529. “It made no sense to exclude for the largest growth in member- them from our bargaining unit.” ship through new unit organizing at According to Williams, an outside CFT Convention. “It was easier than organization started the program I thought,” Williams concludes. “To called Realizing Amazing Potential, or anyone thinking about organizing, RAP, which offers before- and after- my advice is, ‘Just do it.’” school activities at nine campuses. — By Mindy Pines, CFT Reporter RAP employees prepare students for regular classroom curriculum, help them with homework by pro- VELMA BUTLER viding background knowledge and COUNCIL PRESIDENT < hands-on activities, and plan and implement unique lessons. They Organize to build power also lead activities such as computer Organizing drives are central to the learning classes, silkscreening, and task of bringing new workers into the participation in sports and a musi- union. The main way a union brings in cal rock band. The district eventually The local immediately launched due process for grievances, evaluation new members is to convince the workers BANNED to choose the benefits of unionization absorbed the program. a card-signing campaign. After a and discipline; paid holidays, sick and to vote for the union during an Over the years, RAP workers had few months of personal visits, meet- days, and vacation leave. The district organizing campaign. experienced unfair treatment includ- ings and phone calls, more than 86 retroactively paid program work- Respect for workers’ rights plays ers for holidays from February 2011 a significant role in determining the through April 2012. “The services these workers provide are as essential as outcome of an organizing election, in Having job security and a demo- recruiting new leaders, and in retain- those provided by instructional assistants and support cratic process at the workplace were ing new members. When the union personnel in the district. It made no sense to exclude important to Cathy Kizine, a program proves its effectiveness at representing leader at Anderson Elementary. She workers, an employee’s perception of them from our bargaining unit.” played a key organizing role at her site the union usually improves. Organizational strength comes pri- —Carl Williams, President, Lawndale Federation of Classified Employees by distributing flyers and union cards, attending meetings, and explaining marily from our membership. Unions ing at-will dismissals, reductions in percent of the RAP employees had why having a union was a good idea. lose members every day through work hours and transfers without signed union cards. Kizine says that there are still some death, retirement, and job loss, so we need to constantly recruit new mem- notice. There was no process for dis- Groves helped research the Educa- issues to hash out. The RAP workers bers to maintain membership levels cipline or evaluation. tion Code, comparing job duties and want job titles that more accurately and to build power at the workplace. responsibilities of the RAP employees describe what they do and there are The new members of Local 4529 fall Collective bargaining has tradition- unresolved details about employee into two job classifications. Program to those of union-represented staff. ally been and remains today, the most leaders plan and lead student activities, Because of her research, the union was dress code and uniforms. “Now important mechanism for the pursuit of able to present a strong case showing members can democratically decide and tutor. Activities specialists per- social and economic justice for workers. SHARON BEALS TOP: form administrative tasks, help build how the duties of RAP employees were what’s important to them, and how to

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 13 Students were vocal on May 1, especially after being pepper- sprayed a month earlier. Community College

Labor leads opposition to two-tier fee plan at Santa Monica Faculty and students defend the working class on International Workers’ Day

IT TOOK THE PEPPER-SPRAYING were pepper-sprayed. It was this inci- ter and summer semesters is the only of 30 Santa Monica College student dent, carried out with what students solution to the problem of classes protestors to put the brakes on a two- called a total lack of common sense, being cut. Quiñones-Perez is a coun- tier pricing plan that threatens to that led to a large protest at the next selor at El Camino College in Tor- deny higher education to thousands board meeting on May 1. rance, a member of the El Camino of students. Fittingly on International Work- Federation of Teachers and the local’s Announced by the Santa Monica ers’ Day, students, faculty, and com- executive board. College Board of Trustees in March, munity members spoke out together During the pre-meeting protest, the plan would offer high-demand, against the Santa Monica plan. Quiñones-Perez saluted the protesters Los Angeles faculty members John McDowell, core education courses — English, Deborah Kaye and Phyllis Eckler at the protest. history, math — at a cost of $180 per unit, while all other state-funded tricts are already lined up waiting to classes would remain at $46 per unit. copy the Santa Monica model,” Wad- The college planned to implement the dell told the board. “If this is allowed program this summer with enroll- BY BOB RIHA JR PHOTOS to go through, it will change forever ment beginning in May. the face of public education.” This news brought out residents, CFT helped organize the May Day faculty, staff and students. But instead protest with dozens of labor unions. of having a voice at the April 3 Board Maria Elena Durazo, leader of the Los of Trustees meeting, the protesters Angeles County Federation of Labor, told the Board of Trustees, “This is CARL FRIEDLANDER about free public education for every- > COUNCIL PRESIDENT one. On behalf of hundreds of thou- sands of union members, we want to CFT fights two-tier abandon plans to create a separate student fee proposal high fee track at community col- Discriminatory “two-tier solutions” CFT member David Bradfield told lege, instead let’s use our energy and are popping up all around us: toll lanes, the trustees their plan will deny resources to pass the governor’s tax congestion pricing, and high fees for education to thousands of students. initiative.” matriculated CSU students to take The Santa Monica plan is still on credit classes through Extension. the table, and the two-tier issue is not In response to dwindling access Addressing the trustees and the 300 and called her fellow board members going away. CFT led last summer’s in the California community colleges, protesters, CFT leaders said the mis- “stubborn in their adherence to the fight against AB 515, which would Santa Monica College has become sion of the California Master Plan for self-funded classes.” have allowed high-fee extension the principal promoter of this divisive Higher Education is to make college classes in the community colleges. and phony solution to the problem of Her fellow AFT local union leader, “We are adamantly and steadfastly shrunken resources. education accessible to all families. The community college system is John McDowell, an instructor at opposed to any two-tier fee structure,” decentralized, with locally elected Los Angeles Trade Technical College, said Carl Friedlander, president of the boards of trustees having a high degree called it “extremely unfair” to set up a CFT Community College Council, “as of autonomy in each district. But that toll lane where only students who have are the Statewide Faculty and Student independence does not include the the means to pay for classes will get Senates. Everyone in the system across right of an individual district or college them. “California has a huge problem,” the state has opposed Santa Monica’s to create a two-tier fee structure. he said. “Hundreds of thousands of stu- effort to create a special track of classes CFT is leading a coalition to oppose dents are being turned away. This plan for people who can afford them.” the wrongheaded efforts in Santa will exacerbate the problem and under- He points in particular to Jack Scott, Monica, and, as long as the college mine support to restore funding.” Board of Trustees Chair Margaret Quiñones- chancellor of the California Commu- Perez called her fellow trustees “stubborn.” pursues two-tier education, the coali- With the exception of Board of nity Colleges, who called the Santa tion will broaden and its opposition Trustees Chair Margaret Quiñones- Joanne Waddell, president of the Los Monica plan illegal, and Attorney efforts will intensify. District trustees and President Tsang must drop their ill- Perez and Student Trustee Joshua Angeles College Faculty Guild, called General Kamala Harris, who agrees. conceived plans to create a high-priced Scuteri, college officials have main- the two-tier plan “ground zero for — By Kelsey Duckett, Special to toll lane for California students. tained that increasing fees in the win- public education in California. Dis- the California Teacher

14 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012 UCLA’s Kent Wong marches in stride with the 99%. University

Labor leads opposition to two-tier fee plan at Santa Monica Classics lecturer maintains classic ideas about unions Faculty and students defend the working class on International Workers’ Day New local president Rundin says union makes lecturer job worth having

CLASSICS LECTURER John Rundin feels privileged to pass on to another “Joining a union should be like living in generation the cultural treasures that were given to him by the previous a town and saying you’re a citizen. It is generation. The teacher of Latin and PINES BY MINDY PHOTOS my civic responsibility to participate.” ancient Greek is one of two recipients of this year’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UC Davis Aca- demic Federation. “I live my job, love what I do, and I love my students,” says Rundin. “It is a great honor.” In a packed classroom, California Teacher observed the animated and energetic Rundin bring Latin subjunc- tives to life for his inquisitive students. History major Caroline Whyler, who is taking her third class with Rundin, appreciates his patience and describes him as having “just the right amount of eccentricity needed to make Latin New local president John Rundin has been recruiting fellow lecturers on campus, resulting in a 12 percent membership increase for UC-AFT Davis. interesting. He is never boring.” Rundin credits the union with “would turn education into mere job no phone or room numbers. I had to “keeping culture, the arts, and human- training…into making us cogs in the hunt them down by going to depart- ities alive.” The newly elected president machine,” he says. He is angered by ment administrative offices and, if I BOB SAMUELS COUNCIL PRESIDENT of UC-AFT Davis, Local 2023, explains, the “impoverished view of education was lucky, I found office hours and < room numbers.” Once he found them, reformers who don’t see our role as Why UC always loses in he explained to the lecturers how building citizens who will make our the state budget country worth living in.” more union members meant more Unionism and civic responsibil- union strength at the bargaining table. Due to the structure of the ity are nothing new for Rundin, who When local president Alex Borg California state budget, it is almost guaranteed that each year, UC and has always been active politically and stepped down, Rundin stepped up. CSU will get a funding reduction. served as faculty union president Rundin wants to continue building That’s because more than 70 percent local membership, and to increase when he taught at the University of of state dollars are locked into funding Texas. But until he passed his six-year member activity and political K-14 education (through Proposition review at UC (the equivalent of pro- involvement. An engaged member- 98), prisons, and healthcare. before lecturers unionized, “they didn’t bation) in January 2011, Rundin sim- ship, he believes, is esssential to pro- That leaves less than 30 percent have a fair review process. They earned ply attended union meetings and kept tecting public education against “the to fund everything else, and means less.” There were no rehire standards up on the issues. massive propaganda effort against that the universities have to fight it or job security. After his review, he amped up his unions waged by the right. out with the poor, the hungry, and the “UC did not merely give us a fair activity and led the local’s member- “Teacher unions are vital to the disabled for an ever-shrinking piece of grievance procedure. All the fairness ship drive. His energy and persistence world of education,” Rundin asserts, the budget pie. in our job is due to what the union resulted in a dramatic 12 percent and “education, economic growth, Even if legislators say they care negotiated. The only reason the lec- increase of lecturer members at Davis. and cultural amenities essential to our about higher education, when push comes to shove, they know that the turer job is worth having is because Rundin says access is the biggest well-being.” But, he concludes, while UC can always raise tuition, while challenge in organizing lecturers, who “UC has been a premium university, of the union,” Rundin says. “Joining a other programs do not have an alter- over the last couple decades, California union should be like living in a town are spread across a vast area in iso- native source of income. and saying you’re a citizen. It is my lated units. “You have to talk to people has stepped away from its responsibil- The only solution to this long-term civic responsibility to participate.” face to face. UC supplies lists of eli- ity to foster this institution.” problem is to increase state revenue The union protects public educa- gible bargaining unit members, but — By Mindy Pines, CFT Reporter and force legislators to support higher they list only names and departments, tion and fights against those who education in a lasting way. JANE HUNDERTMARK TOP:

APRIL/MAY 2012 CALIFORNIA TEACHER 15 You are the union…

Reporting Local Action Local Wire Around the State

selor at Evergreen Valley College. “Their voice is crucial.” Rank & Files At the conference, students dis- Jerry Smith, a high school English cussed political action inside the teacher for 35 years and member of the classroom and out, such as the Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers, “Schools and Local Public Safety Local 1020, recently published a novel Protection Act” ballot initiative, and titled It’s Not About the Students, a pro- the AFT’s Just Ask campaign, which vocative look at the bittersweet struggle encourages students to ask college that is the American education system.

PATRICK EVANS PATRICK representatives about the treatment Smith was a long-time member of the Mirella Burton (center, second row), conference co-chair and counselor at Evergreen Valley of college employees. local’s executive board and an ad hoc College, surrounded by students she works with in the Enlace program. Khalid White, instructor of Afri- political coordinator. Local can American studies, said that many president Steve McDou- LOCAL 6157 to learn about advocacy efforts that students were struggling. “You have gall called the novel “a Success beyond the classroom… will enhance their success in class. students that are dealing with life’s useful teaching tool for learning how to organize Never underestimate the hunger California’s budget crisis hit the challenges. If I don’t eat, if I don’t a local’s membership for San Jose colleges particularly hard of community college students to have money to get to and from common causes. Jerry achieve their dreams. because they serve a large working- school, homework is fifth, sixth, sev- walked a picket line before When the San Jose/Evergreen class community. At least 25 percent enth on the list of priorities.” he received permanent Faculty Association, the AFT, and of enrollees are first generation His- Typical of the challenge is Norma status, was laid off, was on the South Bay Labor Council cospon- panic immigrants. Diego, soon to graduate from San management’s ‘most wanted list,’ and sored the first annual “Student “The young voting population is Jose City College, who has to bal- pushed for former teachers and students Success Beyond the Classroom” con- important, and we need to expose ance school, family and work. “I work to serve on our school board.” ference, 35 students from San Jose them to what is going on in their full time, and I go to school full time, City College and Evergreen Valley community, both in education and so it’s hard to please everybody,” she Frank Bardacke, author of College gave up a precious Saturday politics,” says Mirella Burton, a coun- concluded. — By Patrick Evans Trampling Out the Vintage: Cesar Chavez and the Two Souls of the United Farm Workers, reviewed in California Teacher LOCALS 4794 & 1911 (Feb-Mar 2012), has won the 2012 ALL LOCAL UNIONS Hillman Prize for Book Journalism. Coast on the move…The Coast Signed, sealed, delivered…With an April 25 deadline looming for the Bardacke taught at the Watsonville Adult Federation of Classified Employ- School for 25 years and is a member of submission of voluntary signatures to qualify the Schools and Local Public Safety ees is aggressively building its union, Protection Act of 2012 for the November ballot, CFT members stepped up and quickly the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, according to President Ann Nichol- Local 1936. The Sidney Hillman Founda- gathered more than 10,000 signatures. son, and with successes stacking up, tion honors journalists who pursue deep As many faculty and classified were returning from spring break, 48 local unions plans to ramp up its efforts. storytelling in service of the common collected an impressive 11,135 signatures in just over three weeks. The signature Working closely with CFT, Local good. Hillman was the founding presi- gathering marks a major step in building awareness about the need for state bud- 4794 has developed a plan to increase dent of the Amalgamated Clothing and get reform. CFT offers a big shout-out to members who worked hard to ensure that membership, create a retiree chapter, Textile Workers Union of America and an the new tax initiative qualifies for the ballot. and recruit and train more site reps. architect of the New Deal who fought to build a vibrant union movement. TOP SIGNATURE GATHERERS And it’s working. Already the union has signed up 39 new members and 2,048: Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521 Jenn Laskin, member of the eight retirees. The local also plans a 1,006: United Educators of San Francisco, Local 61 Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, major recruitment drive to increase 798: Glendale College Guild, Local 2276 Local 1936, was awarded the Irene participation in its Committee on 672: Ventura County Federation of College Teachers, Local 1828 Agosta Memorial Award for Outstanding Political Education, or COPE. 628: Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, Local 4400 Achievement in Rights for Union Women In the ongoing fight for fair fund- by the Monterey Bay Central Labor TOP SIGNATURE GATHERERS AS PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL MEMBERSHIP ing, Coast classified teamed with sister Council on April 27. Laskin was one of 290 percent: San Mateo Adult School Federation of Teachers, Local 4681 faculty union, the Coast Federation six people who marched up the Central 160 percent: Galt Federation of Certificated and Classified Employees, Local 2219 of Educators, to persuade the dis- Valley in the March for California’s Future in 2010. She is currently griev- 160 percent: Mendocino College Federation of Teachers, Local 6322 trict to take a hard look at its budget ance officer and political organizer for 130 percent: Glendale College Guild, Local 2276 and find the funds to restore essential Local 1936 and is involved in a host of 120 percent: Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, Local 4400 classes that have been canceled. community coalitions.

16 CALIFORNIA TEACHER APRIL/MAY 2012