the voice of

April b May 2016 California Volume 69, Number 4 california Teacherfederation of teachers, Aft, afl-cio

strike! On the streets of for justice PAGE 8

Extend benefits Vote June 7! A century of of Prop. 30 Primary Election workers’ rights Fall ballot measure opportunity Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate Snapshot: 100 years of the AFT Page 3 Page 5 Page 7 California In this issue All-Union News 03 Community College 14 Teacher Pre-K/K-12 12 University 15 Classified 13 Local Wire 16

UpFront Joshua Pechthalt, CFT President

Election 2016: Americans have shown they that are ready for populist change

here is a lot at stake in this com- But we must not confuse our elec- message calling out the irresponsibil- Ting November election. Not only toral work with our community build- ity of corporate America. If we build will we elect a president and therefore ing work. The social movements that a real progressive movement in this shape the Supreme Court for years to emerged in the 1930s and 1960s weren’t country, we could attract many of the Ultimately, our job come, but we also have a key U.S. sen- tied to mainstream electoral efforts. Trump supporters. ate race, a vital state ballot measure to Rather, they shaped them and gave In California, we have changed is to build the social extend Proposition 30, and important rise to new initiatives that changed the the political narrative by recharging state and local legislative races. political landscape. Ultimately, our job the labor movement, building ties movements that keep While I have been and continue is to build the social movements that to community organizations, and elected leaders to be a Bernie supporter, I believe keep elected leaders moving in a more expanding the electorate. Our efforts the priority in this election is get- progressive direction. four years ago to pass the Millionaires moving in a more ting a Democrat elected to the White Labor must play a decisive role in Tax led to enactment of Proposition progressive direction. House. Those who argue that we are that. Whether regarding income in- 30 and sea changes for education lining up with the corporate-friendly equality, anti-racist funding and the policies of miss the policies including economy. Now we point. The policies of the Democrats prison and polic- Prop 30 works! have to work to are far better than the reactionary ing reform, climate pass an extension policies of the Republican Party — change, an anti-interventionist for- of Prop. 30, a more progressive ballot not as good as those under a Social eign policy, high-quality public edu- measure than the original. Democratic president like Sanders cation including free or affordable Whether it is electing a Democratic would be — but better. higher education, the labor move- president, renewing Proposition 30, If Donald Trump is the Republican ment must provide leadership in or electing Kamala Harris to be our nominee, the task of progressives and deepening and expanding this work. next U.S. senator, we won’t be sitting liberals will be to ensure he is over- The good news is that the Sanders on the sidelines. We can be proud whelmingly defeated. A third party ef- campaign and even the success of that CFT members always turn out fort, whether it be Bernie or the Green the Trump candidacy, show that a to vote in high numbers. Our work Party, that could hand over the White majority of Americans are ready for together in the coming weeks and House to Trump is politically irrespon- something different. They are dis- months will help shape this state and sible. We only have to look at the failed satisfied with the status quo and have country for generations to come. effort of Ralph Nader and election of responded to a populist message George W. Bush in 2000 to be remind- from the left and . We must ed of the disastrous consequences. continue to build upon the Sanders’

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 < of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. The four times a year in September/October, November/ editor. Letters must not exceed 200 words and must What led to this one-day strike? CFT represents faculty and classified workers in public December, February/March and April/May by the include your name, address, and phone number. Letters Faculty members at City College of and private schools and colleges, from early childhood California Federation of Teachers, 2550 N. Hollywood will be edited for clarity and length. Way, Suite 400, Burbank, CA 91505, and mailed to all San Francisco have been working through higher education. The CFT is committed to Editorial office raising the standards of the profession and to securing CFT members and agency fee payers. Annual subscription without a contract, are making about California Federation of Teachers, 1330 Broadway, 3.5 percent less than they did in the conditions essential to provide the best service to price: $3 (included in membership dues). For others: Suite 1601, Oakland, California 94612 2007, were threatened with loss of California’s students. $10 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Burbank and Telephone 510-523-5238 Fax 510-523-5262 additional mailing offices. accreditation and watched student President Joshua Pechthalt Email [email protected] enrollment plummet, and now the Secretary Treasurer Jeffery M. Freitas Postmaster: Send address corrections to California Publications Director and Editor Jane Hundertmark Teacher, 2550 N. Hollywood Way, Suite 400, Burbank, administration wants to cut classes by senior Vice-President L. Lacy Barnes Contributors this issue: David Bacon, Iván Carillo, 26 percent over the next few years. executive council Cathy Campbell, Alex Caputo- CA 91505. Erin Conley, Fred Glass, Emily Gordon, Elaine Johnson, Pearl, Robert Chacanaca, Linda Chan, Kimberly Claytor, California Teacher is a member of the International Jim Mahler, Joshua Pechthalt, Paula A. Phillips, Mindy photo by sharon beals Melinda Dart, Betty Forrester, Ray Gaer, Miki Goral, Labor Communications Association and the AFT Com- Pines, Ron Rapp, Jill Rice, Bob Samuels, Rico Tamayo, Kathy Jasper, Dennis Kelly,Tim Killikelly, Jim Mahler, municators Network. It is printed by union workers at Jessica Ulstad, Steve Weingarten, Emily Wilson Elaine Merriweather, David Mielke, Dean Murakami, Pacific Standard Press in Sacramento using soy-based Graphic Design Kajun Design, Graphic Artists Guild John Perez, Paula A. Phillips, Francisco Rodriguez, inks on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper that Bob Samuels, Linda Sneed, Luukia Smith, Rico Tamayo, contains 10 percent post-consumer recycled content. Joanne Waddell, Carl Williams, Kent Wong, David Yancey

® 977-M Cert no. SW-COC-001530 cft.org CFT @CFTunion IBT 853

2 California teacher April/may 2016 around the union… Faculty at City College of San Francisco won community support for their April 27 strike. All-Union News

General Election 2016 Prop. 30 extension qualifies for November election Campaign to keep public education funded kicks into high gear

On May 11, a coalition of unions increase in the sales tax, and the other and community groups announced $6 billion dollars originates in three that it had submitted more than tiers of 1, 2, and 3 percent bumps on

a million signatures to place the t e s y cas ey ca r ls o n taxpayers making $250,000, $300,000

“California Children’s Education c o u r and $500,000 per year. This made it and Health Care Protection Act” on an overwhelmingly progressive tax, the November ballot to continue the with the regressive portion — funding benefits of Proposition 30. the sales tax — expiring at The new statewide ballot measure the end of this year. Without asks voters to extend the more pro- an extension, the tax on the gressive income taxes for the wealthi- wealthy ends in 2018. est 2 percent of Californians, and “Thanks to Prop. 30, we drop the modest sales tax that is part have begun to restore the pro- of the original Prop. 30. The measure grams and positions lost to the Great Surrounded by AFT members on will extend the tax on the wealthy for the Monterey Bay Labor Council, Recession,” says CFT President Joshua the next 12 years. state Sen. Bill Monning signs on for Pechthalt. “Without asking million- Proposition 30, a temporary tax extending Proposition 30. aires to pay a little more so that all of passed by California’s voters in 2012 us can benefit, education will return by a 55-45 margin, has been a game to the devastating years of layoffs and tuition increases. We cannot afford to Poll says voters favor extending Prop. 30 changer for public education and the let Prop. 30 expire.” state’s public sector, pumping $7 to On April 20, the Public Policy Institute of California released the results of its CFT is partnering with the CTA, poll, reporting that most Californians say state funding for their local public schools $8 billion per year into state coffers SEIU, and other unions to pass the is inadequate and most favor an extension of the Proposition 30 tax increase on from two sources. extension this November. higher incomes, as well as a bond measure to pay for school construction projects. About a billion dollars comes in >Learn more at protectingca.org from a one quarter of one percent and cft.org. — By CFT Staff

The California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act

Temporarily Only affects the top Updates Reduces Hires Provides up to $2 billion yearly in health care extends Prop 30 2% of earners textbooks class sizes new educators for low-income children and their families 30

Helps prevent tuition NO funding of bureaucracy Continues tough audit and Continues Automatically Expected to raise costs from skyrocketing or administrative costs disclosure requirements independent oversight expires in 12 years $8–11 billion a year : sha ro n be als p : To

April/may 2016 California teacher 3 IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE CFT-sponsored bills advance in the State Capitol

Many bills that bring signifi- would receive “differential pay,” which Classified employee teacher cant benefits or workplace improve- is calculated by reducing the em- credentialing program ments to teachers and classified ployee’s salary by the amount paid to A bill with strong bipartisan sup- employees are now wending their way his or her substitute. For districts that port, CFT-sponsored AB 2122, through the state Legislature. Among do not have a differential pay policy, McCarty, D-Sacramento, would offer them are these three union-sponsored qualified employees would receive grants to districts and county of- bills CFT continues lobbying to pass. half of their normal salary. fices of education to assist classified > Passed the Assembly on May 19 and employees who want to complete Expanding family leave for will now move to the Senate. four-year degrees and obtain teach- classified and college faculty ing credentials. Program participants The CFT has joined forces with Retaining qualified part-time could receive up to $4,000 annually to several education unions to co-spon- faculty pay for tuition and books. sor AB 2393, Campos, D-San Jose, Under CFT-sponsored AB 1690, This bill aims to increase the which would provide community Medina, D-Riverside, community number of applicants to teacher cre- college faculty — full-and part-time college districts lacking a collective fied part-time faculty and establish dentialing programs and increase di- — and classified employees, in both bargaining agreement with part-time a seniority list that would govern versity among the teaching workforce K-12 and the colleges, with up to 12 faculty (as of January 1, 2017) would new assignment offerings and reduc- so that it better matches the student weeks of paid parental leave. This have to negotiate one to establish tions in assignment. Districts with population. improvement was legislated for K-12 standards for the treatment of part- such an agreement in place would be > Passed out of the Assembly Education teachers last year. time faculty including workload dis- exempted. Committee on April 13 and moved Qualified employees must first ex- tribution, due process and seniority > Passed out of the Assembly Higher to the Suspense File in the Assembly haust all accrued sick leave. If an em- rights. Education Committee on a 10-2 vote Appropriations Committee. ployee continues to be absent on ac- The purpose of the negotiated and moved to the Suspense File in — By Ron Rapp, Iván Carillo and Jill Rice, count of parental leave, the employee agreement would be to retain quali- Assembly Appropriations Committee. CFT Legislative Department

How does the May Revision stack up for educators? Governor says voters need to renew Prop. 30 extension

Gov. Brown made it clear in adjustment, a further reduction from receive an additional $29.2 million his May Revision that unless voters the meager 0.47 percent increase pro- in one-time discretionary funds and renew Proposition 30 in November, posed in January. another $20 million to support the California will have to make budget Adult education: There is no development of online courses. As cuts in future years. change to the $500 million Adult with TK-12 teachers and classified His revised budget proposal for Education Block Grant, but the gov- employees, there is no COLA for col- 2016-17 slightly increases school and ernor proposes an additional $5 mil- lege educators. community college funding derived The State budget lion in one-time monies to provide University of California: Funding largely from Proposition 98 — up regional consortia with technical as- remains consistent with the 2015 UC $2.8 billion from our current budget 18 and maintains current funding sistance through 2018-19. Agreement — including the ongo- year — despite lower than anticipated during the transition. Community colleges: The May ing $25 million allotment of General state revenue projections. TK-12 schools: There were a few Revision includes an increase of Fund monies and $171 million to Below are highlights from the May increases including $154 million for $75 million for base funding and fund the retirement program. The Revision. the Local Control Funding Formula maintains enrollment growth fund- May Revision includes a new $4 mil- Early childhood: The governor and an additional $134.8 million ing of 2 percent. Districts would also lion expenditure for the Admission- provided additional detail on the $1.6 in one-time discretionary funds to to-Graduation Success Initiative billion Early Education Block Grant districts. The governor also proposed On the Web aimed at improving student retention he proposed in January. In particular, $12.5 million for two programs >For detailed information, find CFT State and graduation rates. he defines 2016-17 as a transition aimed at addressing the teacher Budget Briefs at cft.org. — By Emily Gordon, CFT Research Director year before implementation in 2017- shortage. There is no cost-of-living

4 California teacher April/may 2016 Primary Election 2016

CFT endorses proven leader Kamala Harris for Senate seat California’s Attorney General brings educator values to a crowded field

With the retirement of Sen. cess. Before that, Kamala Harris childhood education for all, fostering Barbara Boxer after 24 years as a as San Francisco for U.S. Senate collaborative school environments progressive champion, Californians District Attorney, that respect educators’ expertise, and are heading to the polls to fill the first she worked close- providing services that meet the so- open U.S. Senate seat in decades. ly with United cial, economic, and health needs of And the ballot is crowded: 34 can- Educators of San students. didates have filed to replace Boxer, Francisco to tack- In higher education, Harris shares although the clear front-runner is le the problem of our commitment to a high quality, Democrat Kamala Harris. absenteeism. affordable education. She supports The CFT is proud to endorse Harris also making tuition free at community col- Attorney General Harris, joining the created the leges, increasing the size of Pell Grants, California Federation of Labor and Bureau of lowering tuition at public colleges and the California Democratic Party. The Children’s Justice universities, and ending the predatory first key date in the process is the June to protect our practices of for-profit colleges. 7 statewide primary election. state’s youngest j r bob r iha , Because of her strong commitment As Attorney General of California, and most vulnerable population. And Harris has crafted a platform that to our shared values of educational Harris has taken the lead on a number she fought hard against the big banks puts values shared by CFT at the fore- equity, fair funding, and respect for of issues important to educators. She during the foreclosure crisis to defend front. She advocates securing stable educators, the CFT urges you to vote worked to reduce elementary school the very communities in which we funding for early childhood and K-12 for Kamala Harris on June 7. truancy in order to set young students work and live. education, providing affordable child — By Jessica Ulstad, CFT Political Field Director on the right path to educational suc- As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, care for working families and early

Support progressive legislative candidates Get endorsements on your device!

Several progressive candidates are in tight races for California legislative Education-friendly choices on your local ballot seats. If you live in these regions, your vote for these education-friendly candidates >> Go to cft.yourvoter.guide and type in your is particularly important. home address. A page tailored to your individu- STATE SENATE STATE ASSEMBLY al ballot will load, showing endorsed candidates ranging from U.S. Senator to trustees in your local school and college board races, as well as District 3 District 14 local and state ballot measures. You will also Mariko Yamada Mae Torlakson see a map showing your polling location. The positions on The Educators Choice repre- cft.yourvoter.guide sent the endorsements of your local union and District 9 District 27 the CFT. Nancy Skinner Ash Kalra

District 11 District 30 Sacramento voters: Jane Kim Karina Cervantez Alejo Choose Darrell Steinberg for mayor

District 15 The CFT is endorsing former Senate President Pro Tem Jim Beall Darrell Steinberg for mayor of Sacramento. As a member of the California Senate and Assembly, and the Sacramento City Council, District 25 Steinberg consistently advocated for the issues that matter to CFT Anthony Portantino members. “As Pro Tem, Darrell Steinberg pushed for universal pre- school and passage of Transition Kindergarten,” says Jeff Freitas, CFT Secretary Treasurer. “He was an advocate for career-technical education District 35 and prioritized environmentally sustainable efforts. We need people Warren Furutani Darrell Steinberg like Steinberg in our state Capitol and our city halls.” for Sacramento Mayor

VOTE June 7

April/may 2016 California teacher 5 Crisis in the classroom: California confronts teacher shortage Poor working conditions, modest pay, and teacher bashing exact a toll

A decade of bashing teachers compete economically,” says CFT has left California and the nation with President Josh Pechthalt. “Between a dire shortage. Demand for K-12 constant political bombardment and teachers has increased while the new modest pay, it’s no wonder that folks teacher supply is at a 12-year low. avoid the profession.” Lita Blanc, president of United Enrollment in California’s teacher or/SF C h ro nicl e M icha e l ac preparation programs has dropped Educators of San Francisco, says the by 76 percent over the last decade, city is losing hundreds of teachers and far below what is needed to fill va- paraprofessionals each year because cancies, according to Linda Darling- they cannot afford to live there. Many Hammond, faculty director at the are forced to move to less expensive Stanford Center for Opportunity neighboring cities and face long com- Policy in Education. mutes. “This destabilizes schools and This year alone, California needed has an impact on student learning.” to fill 21,500 slots, but the state is is- Numerous bills addressing the suing fewer than 15,000 new creden- shortage are before the Legislature. tials. The number of provisional and One, CFT-sponsored AB 2122, would short-term permits in 2014-15 tripled Kindergarten teacher Rebecca Sheehan-Stross was one of several union members featured in a provide district-based grants for quali- San Francisco Chronicle special report about educators being priced out of the city. from two years earlier. Twice as many fying classified employees to help cover students in high-minority schools are were new this year and about 20 per- On top of that, we’re a high-risk, the cost of getting a four-year degree taught by teachers on waivers or per- cent of those were not credentialed. high-crime community.” and credential. (See full story, page 13) mits, and not yet enrolled in a prepa- The salary for beginning teachers is Starting pay for teachers in At the same time, a recent poll by ration program. only $42,000. California hovers around $41,000 Hart Research Associates shows that Recruitment difficulties and high Bassler can’t see how anyone can while average national starting sala- the American public believes teachers turnover in the growing Salinas survive on less than $50,000. “The ries for computer science graduates are profoundly undervalued and need Union High School District are com- housing crunch hits us hard,” she are $52,000 and electrical engineer- more support and better treatment mon, reports Kati Bassler, president says, “as people escaping high costs in ing is $57,000. “Though teaching is a to elevate the profession and improve of the Salinas Valley Federation. Out the Bay Area, Gilroy, and other towns rewarding profession and has an im- public education. of 780 teachers in the district, 100 move into Salinas and raise our costs. pact on the lives of children, it can’t — By Mindy Pines, CFT Reporter

Victory! Courts reject conservative anti-union lawsuits Attacks on educator rights and union fair share halted…for now

On April 14, the California Court ferior to the education received by sector unions. After ers will not of Appeals unanimously overturned other students.” the sudden death simply give the lower court’s decision in the The unanimous appellate opinion of conservative up. But we Vergara v. California case. The suit is a stinging rebuke to Judge Rolf M. Justice Antonin have been sought to dismantle seniority and due Treu’s poorly-reasoned ruling, and to Scalia, the court given the process rights for teachers in the the allegations made and millions of ruled 4-4 on March gift of time name of students’ equal access to ed- dollars spent by wealthy anti-union 29, keeping in place to organize ucation. The appellate court wisely “education reformers,” led by Silicon the court’s previous our mem- ruled that there is no constitutional Valley millionaire David Welch, ruling in Abood v. bers and the link between tenure and student to bypass voters, parents, and the Detroit Board of community performance. Legislature with harmful education Education. Abood to repel In the ruling, the three-judge panel policy changes. said that bargaining unit members these attacks.” stated, “Plaintiffs failed to establish The victory in the Vergara case receiving benefits from the union may Backers of Friedrichs have already that the challenged statutes violate came on the heels of the U.S. Supreme be required to pay for them. asked the Supreme Court to take up equal protection, primarily because Court upholding a court’s lower deci- “It does not mean that our struggle the case again when a ninth justice they did not show that the statutes sion to strike down the Friedrichs v. is over,” says CFT President Josh is confirmed, magnifying the high inevitable cause a certain group of CTA case, which attempted to elimi- Pechthalt. “The deep-pocketed back- stakes in this November’s presidential students to receive an education in- nate fair share payments for public ers of the Friedrichs lawsuit and oth- election. — By CFT Staff

6 California teacher april/may 2016 Snapshot The first years of the AFT From eight local unions to 3,000 locals and 1.6 million members

World War I and the Depression: “contracts which still stipulated that this blight on academic freedom, de- The American Federation of Teachers an employed teacher must wear skirts fending teachers wrongly accused of was founded in of certain lengths, keep her galoshes “subversion.” Chicago, with eight buckled, not receive gentleman callers In the forefront of the civil rights locals signing on more than three times a week, and movement, the AFT filed an amicus as AFL President teach a Sunday School class,” said the brief in the historic 1954 Supreme Samuel Gompers American Teacher magazine. Loyalty Court desegregation case Brown v. welcomed the union oaths were required in some places, Board of Education, and in 1957 ex- into its fold in 1916. and teachers were dismissed for join- pelled Southern locals that failed to The union oper- ing the AFT or for working on board desegregate, knowingly losing thou- ated from one room 1924 First election campaigns. sands of members. of AFT Financial woman president Florence Rood 1948 AFT stops chartering segregated locals Secretary Freeland 1960s and civil Stecker’s five-room bungalow in rights: Across Chicago. President Charles Stillman the country, AFT The 1980s saw a concentrated lived next door. affiliates worked movement toward education reform. The AFT chartered 174 locals in its to wring collec- The AFT and its more than 600,000 first four years, but after World War I, tive bargaining members worked to tear down the ar- many school boards pressured teach- agreements from tificial barriers between contract bar- ers to resign from the union. By the stubborn school gaining and end of the 1920s, membership had boards, witness- other profes- dropped to half the number in 1920, ing a one-day sional issues, less than 5,000. The union fought for walkout by New and to include tenure laws and the academic free- York City teach- teachers and 1964 Detroit Federation of Teachers wins bargaining rights ers and the first staff as deci- major U.S. strike sion-making By 1932, the Norris-La Guardia by university professors. More than partners. Act outlawed “yellow dog contracts,” 300 teacher strikes followed during The which bound workers not to join a the next 10 years. The AFT grew from Federation union. By the end of the Depression, fewer than 60,000 members in 1960 to entered tenure of some kind had been gained more than 200,000 by 1970. the 1990s 1965 AFT President Albert Shanker in 17 states. Collective bargaining pioneer with nearly delivers cards to Martin Luther King, Jr. for a voter registration drive While membership grew from Albert Shanker was elected AFT 700,000 7,000 to 32,000 in the 1930s, the president 1974. He was one of the members, but real education reform union unfortunately joined with country’s most influential voices on became more daunting as the new much of labor in a communist witch education reform. millennium neared. 1946 Four teachers were fired for being hunt. As a result, three local charters married and AFT supports their lawsuit were withdrawn in 1941. 1970s through 1990s: Although The 21st century: The Futures which they won 10 years later it struggled with the Committee, a panel of AFT vice presi- WWII and post-war: tough issue of decreas- dents, spent two years consulting with dom of teachers whose beliefs were The AFT pushed bond ing support for urban members to shape a new direction for being investigated during the Red sales, war relief, and air education, by the mid- union governance and structure, work Scare hysteria. raid programs in the 1970s the AFT was the that continues today. The Depression worsened the low schools. After the war, fastest-growing union Under the leadership of salaries and economic insecurity although AFT policy op- in the country. In 1978, President Randi Weingarten, the that the union had fought during its posed strikes, numerous the AFT established a union has grown to 1.6 million mem- first 15 years. Female teachers faced locals struck against de- healthcare division and, bers in 3,000 locals and launched pressed salaries. in 1983, one for local, initiatives such as Reclaiming the On the Web In the McCarthy pe- state and federal govern- Promise, the AFT’s signature um- riod during the 1950s, >Learn more about AFT’s first 100 ment employees. A divi- brella campaign, that crosses all con- years in numerous short videos and an loyalty oaths cropped up sion for support staff and stituencies and includes a focus on again. The AFT played a 1979 San Francisco para- paraprofessionals soon community partnerships. interactive timeline at aft.org/100years. professionals go on strike leading role in opposing followed. — Excerpted from a brief history of the AFT

April/may 2016 California teacher 7 San Francisco City College faculty calls one-day strike! April 27 action protests COLlege administration stonewalling

represents faculty at the college, filed College,” was Josué Argüelles. No school for the day, citing safety con- an unfair labor practice, charging raise since 2007 isn’t acceptable, says cerns. Argüelles believes the chancel- that the much-maligned Accrediting the CCSF student and co-director of lor is blaming teachers, and hopes the Commission for Community and Young Workers United, a multi-racial strike shows the positive community Junior Colleges, which tried to revoke organization dedicated to raising feeling towards them. the college’s accreditation in 2013, standards in the city’s low-wage ser- Sheila Tully, chapter president of ain, wind, and a four-hour has inserted itself into the bargain- vice sectors. the California Faculty Association at round trip from her home ing process, leading to a large drop in In response to the strike, Interim San Francisco State, saw that com- Rcould not keep English teacher enrollment. The accrediting agency Chancellor Susan Lamb closed the munity feeling when she canvassed Jessica Nelson away from City College is currently under scrutiny from the of San Francisco to join a one-day U.S. Department of Education, the strike on April 27, the first strike in California Community College Board the school’s history. of Governors and the state chancel- “I wanted to support my fellow lor’s office. faculty,” she said. “There’s a lack of re- By 8 a.m., tables with coffee and do- spect for faculty here. That’s what led nuts were set up at college entrances. to this strike and all the time, energy Chants of “Whose college? Our college! and effort the union has put into it.” Whose contract? Our contract!” rang Faculty members at City College out, and occasionally, “Whose donuts? have been working without a contract Our donuts!” to accompany the passing for more than a year, and due to take- cars honking in support. Even when the aways, are making about 3.5 percent morning rain briefly became a down- less than they did in 2007. Other issues pour, students, community members, that led to the strike include admin- labor leaders, and faculty didn’t leave istration plans to cut classes by 26 the soggy picket line. percent over the next few years and At the Phelan Street entrance, a holding onto reserves of $60 million Teamsters truck stopped. And march- they could use to support students ing with a much-coveted purple and faculty. AFT Local 2121, which sign that read, “Prince Supports City

VOICES from the line

“I came to support my teachers. They “A strike is significant — you do it “I expected a good turnout, but I “I’m very pissed off with the district need to get paid.” when you don’t have any alterna- didn’t expect this. I mean, look at it for not negotiating in good faith. Oliver Wilson, Computer engineering tives. It’s the ultimate weapon for — the students are out and commu- They need to stop listening to the student workers to withhold their labor.” nity people. I don’t know who the ACCJC. They’re not offering fair wag- Sheila Tully, Chapter president of administration thinks they represent, es and they’re trying to divide and the California Faculty Association but they don’t represent the people conquer part-timers and full-timers.” at San Francisco State University of this city.” Cliff Liehe, Member, Retiree Chapter Tarik Farrar, Chair, African-American Studies of Local 2121

8 California teacher April/may 2016 San Francisco City College faculty calls one-day

“We want them to bargain in good faith and have a vision of a future where we’re not looking at cuts and cuts and more cuts.” — Jessica Buschbaum, Secretary, Local 2121 and member of the negotiating team

for Proposition A, a parcel tax voters bunch of toddlers carrying “We are resist sneaking in a vocabulary les- “and they’re saying to save this tree, passed to support City College. When CCSF” signs significantly upped the son, talking about the words “fair,” we need to cut it off at the roots.” faculty at SF State recently planned a cuteness quotient. “legal” and “respect,” as well Buschbaum thinks the strike will five-day strike, called off The same day, as their opposites. Cook says make a difference, citing faculty, when a contract agree- the sun shone on that when someone puts off workers, commu- ment was reached, Local a noon rally at the an important conversation, nity and students all 2121 members support- Civic Center near the way the district is doing standing together. ed them. Tully is picket- City Hall. Speakers with negotiations, it shows “We want them to ing to reciprocate. included former state a clear lack of respect. bargain in good faith “This is what soli- Assemblyman Tom Jeff Freitas After the rally, Jessica and have a vision of darity looks like,” she Ammiano, who asked Buschbaum, Local 2121 a future where we’re says. “This fight is for “What the f--- is happening to San secretary and a member of the ne- not looking at cuts Tim Killikelly the future of higher Francisco?”; Local 2121 President gotiating team, said and cuts education.” Tim Killikelly; CFT Secretary the union called the and more cuts,” she When Linda Treasurer Jeff Freitas; students and one-day strike after said. “We’re very hopeful Mickelson, a child devel- former students; Labor Council months of district because the way we see it opment teacher, told the Executive Director Tim Paulson; officials’ lack of seri- there is money, and we just parents of the children Supervisor Jane Kim, who said she is ousness in bargain- need to shift the political in her preschool classes behind CCSF “100 percent”; United ing and their rhetoric will, and we’ll get there.” Jane Kim she would join the strike, Educators of San Francisco President on raising enroll- — By Emily Wilson, CFT Reporter, they decided to come Lita Blanc; and City College ESL ment with no real plan. and Instructor at City College with their kids. So a teacher Venette Cook, who couldn’t “It’s as if you have a tree,” she said, of San Francisco

photos by sharon beals

“It can be very demoralizing. We “I think it makes a difference being “I’m appalled at the administration’s “The so-called rainy day fund is very, come in with a serious proposal and here. It’s being visible — people driving narrative of pitting students against very large — a lot larger than it they take weeks to respond or the by may go home and look it up. And faculty. I hope the administration needs to be. The union has shown response is ‘No’ or it’s regressive. It’s they see the children here.” does agree to the union’s demands that.” insulting.” Nicole Harris, Former student in child and stops trying to divide teachers Jeff Liss, English teacher Wendy Kaufmyn, Engineering instructor, development and students.” member of Local 2121 Negotiating Team Josué Argüelles, Student and Co-Director, and Executive Board Young Workers United

April/may 2016 California teacher 9 CFT’s top officers honor the100th birthday of the AFT on May 9: Lacy Barnes, Josh Pechthalt and Jeff Freitas. Around CFT

Mark your Calendar New executive director brings extensive Connect with CFT education union experience on social media May 31 is the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot for the Here are two quick and Statewide Primary Election. (The last Joe Boyd joins CFT as ing to improve community easy ways to keep up with education day to register to vote in the primary the union’s new execu- health in Latin America. happenings over the summer: “Like” election was May 23.) tive director and brings Before starting his union CFT on Facebook and follow the union a wealth of experience, career, Boyd taught gov- on Twitter. June 7 is the Statewide Primary including working with ernment in Richmond The union posts regular informa- Election. To get personalized recom- United Teachers Los and Long Beach high tion on Facebook about major events mendations on your mobile device, go Angeles and the Teachers schools. He then worked and newsworthy items in the worlds to The Educators Choice online voter of education and labor. You can also guide at cft.yourvoter.guide and Association of Long for the California Teachers follow union action leading up to enter your address. Make your voice Beach, where he was Association for 23 years, serving as a top trouble- General Election 2016, including the heard. VOTE! executive director. He Joe Boyd most recently served as shooter often tasked with CFT’s work to extend Proposition 30 in June 20-24 Union Summer School president of the Advocacy Resource helping struggling locals, negotiating order to keep our schools and colleges adequately funded. offers five days of top-notch training Group, which works on public policy, contracts, and working on campaigns. and leadership development at the For Twitter users, you will find strategy and organizing efforts. He recently served as an expert wit- Kellogg West Conference Center & plenty of good items to retweet to Boyd has been helping people and ness for the union in the Vergara case. Hotel at Cal Poly Pomona. Learn more your followers. groups organize for more than 30 Boyd joined CFT in April following at goo.gl/wwGwsH, or phone the > Join the conversation! Like CFT on years. His early organizing efforts in- the retirement of Dan Martin, who CFT Oakland office at 510-523-5238. Facebook and follow @cftunion on cluded anti-apartheid protests at UC held the position for five years and Twitter. July 1 is the deadline for continu- Berkeley, working on the co-op hous- launched the Building Power cam- ing college students to apply for ing movement there, and volunteer- paign to boost member engagement. Raoul Teilhet Scholarships. CFT @CFTunion

July 12-13 is the California Labor Federation Biennial Convention at the Oakland Marriott City Center. Learn more at calaborfed.org. CFT staffer authors new book

July 17-21, our national union will on California labor history celebrate its 100th anniversary at the biennial AFT Convention to be held Raoul Teilhet In a newly penned labor his- serve the at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Scholarships tory of the Golden State — From same pur- Travel to the heartland and join in Mission to Microchip: A History of pose they the celebration honoring 100 years of Applications to the CFT the California Labor Movement — always education unionism. Find convention Raoul Teilhet Scholarship Program are Communications Director Fred Glass have — schedules and happenings at aft.org/ now being accepted from continuing unearths the hidden stories of the protecting convention. college students through July 1. many waves of working people who and em- September 23 kicks off a union The CFT offers scholarships to col- came to find employment in the state. powering weekend in Sacramento with Friday lege students who are children or While other states face declining workers meetings of the Community College dependents of CFT members in good union enrollment rates and the roll- in the Council, the Council of Classified standing. Students enrolled in four-year back of workers’ rights, California quest for their fair share of Employees and the EC/TK-12 courses of study are eligible for $3000 unions are embracing working im- the American Dream.” This is an Council. On Saturday, September scholarships; those enrolled in two-year migrants, and voters are protecting indispensable book for students and 24 the Standing Committees courses of study are eligible for $1000. core worker rights. The state’s labor scholars of labor history, as well as meet. Later that day, the CFT State Award selection is based on aca- movement has overcome perceived labor activists and organizers. Council convenes.…all at The HIlton demic achievement, special talents barriers such as race, national origin, Glass teaches labor history at City Sacramento Arden West. and skills, extracurricular activities, and language to unite newcomers and College of San Francisco. He previ- October 7-9 is the Council of financial need, and a 500-word essay. natives in their shared interest. ously produced CFT’s ten-part docu- Classified Employees Conference Scholarships are awarded for any one AFT President Randi Weingarten mentary video series on California at the Kona Kai Resort & Marina in year of higher education. Students says about the new book, “Fred Glass labor history called Golden Lands, San Diego. Support staff and parapro- who received scholarships as high puts to rest the myth that unions are Working Hands. fessionals, mark your calendars! This school seniors are not eligible for a thing of the past, once needed but > Buy the book at ucpress.edu/ annual conference is filled with learn- another scholarship during college. no longer. These stories from the 9780520288409 ($35 paperback, $70 ing and social opportunities you won’t > Download an application at cft.org/ hidden history of working people’s cloth). Use source code 16M4197 at want to miss. member-services/scholarships. struggles show that unions today checkout for a 30 percent discount.

10 California teacher April/may 2016 Pre-K–12 Women leaders bring powerful traits to union work How the female perspective helps new local presidents succeed

Five women spoke to California Teacher about their first months as new presidents of AFT local unions. These leaders relate how their perspective as

women shapes their approach to the challenges unions face. sha ro n be als

Laurisa Stuart • Rescue Union Federation of Teachers

n the developing ranchlands east bers so we can articulate their con- Iof Sacramento, Laurisa Stuart cerns,” Stuart says, “and we launched teaches fourth grade at Green Valley a monthly newsletter.” Elementary in the unincorporated As a result, member participation community of Rescue, which was has increased markedly. During con- once a stop on the Pony Express. tract negotiations, when asked, nearly Stuart gets one release day a week 100 percent of the teachers wore union as president of her 180-member shirts, joined informational picket union. She needs be “extremely or- lines, and worked to rule. In one action, ganized, a good listener, and able to members wrote their concerns on post- multitask,” she says, and credits being cards, filed into the K-8 district office, the mother of four children, ages 6 to and presented them to administrators. 11, with helping her hone those skills. Stuart wants a more respectful, Laurisa Stuart Stuart prioritizes increasing mem- trusting relationship with the district. ber engagement and communication. And the teachers’ insistence on hav- agreement with regularly scheduled Union leaders meet frequently with ing collaborative planning time, in- shared planning time and a 4.5 per- site reps and administrators to resolve stead of “top-down, district-dictated cent salary increase. rico tamayo council president problems early. “We listen to mem- staff development,” landed them an > Attracting new teachers It’s no secret that California is facing a huge teacher shortage. Enrollment in teacher preparation Gemma Abels • Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers programs has dropped by more than 76 percent over the last decade and sha ro n be als In January, the union sponsored a o better connect with student fam- is now below the estimated number Tilies, Gemma Abels pays attention workshop on “growth mindset,” a of school district hires. There are short- to both facts and feelings. “The whole learning theory that stresses work and ages not only in traditionally hard family is affected by our working con- perseverance — 50 parents attended. to fill subject areas such as math, ditions,” she says. In April, the local hosted a Friends science, and special education, but Morgan Hill is the lowest paying and Family Festival, featuring student also in areas such as English, drama, district in Silicon Valley’s Santa Clara music performances, a petting zoo, humanities, history, and social science. County, so salary and benefits are big and community resource tables. What can be done? Create incen- concerns for the 410 teachers working These activities deepened the in- tives such as forgiving college loans in the unified district. At a May board volvement of more teachers in union and paying for the cost of teaching meeting, members spoke about need- life. What’s more, they supported credentials. Provide all beginning ing second jobs and living in single Abels when she was diagnosed with teachers with access to a mentoring program such as Beginning Teacher rooms because they can’t afford their and successfully treated for ovarian Support and Assessment. Promote own apartments. cancer — putting women’s issues labor-management programs so that Abels wants to engage parents front and center in the union. teachers have a voice in running their on deeper levels to effect change. schools. And, perhaps most impor- Gemma Abels >> Continued on next page… tantly, reduce class size in all grades and raise salaries across the board — these changes would attract and keep By Mindy Pines, CFT Reporter more teachers.

April/may 2016 California teacher 11 Five women leaders >Continued from previous page

Gloria Garcia • Early Childhood Federation passion for helping low-income twice the paperwork and number of A families and a deep desire to parent conferences for the same low help women understand “they can be pay. “We used to have time to teach everything they want to be” inspires and prepare lessons,” Garcia explains. Gloria Garcia to lead a union of 600 “It isn’t fair to our children, or their Head Start and child development families.” workers in Los Angeles. The local In response, the local is develop- represents teachers, instructional ing long-range strategies. Leaders aides, family services specialists, cleri- met with their supervisors and board cal, maintenance, and kitchen staff. members to explain the workplace “Women are strong and have the realities. “They had no idea,” she says. power to change their lives, and the “We gained their empathy and now lives of others,” she proclaims. Garcia we meet quarterly.” knew poverty growing up in Mexico, And she’s not stopping there. is a survivor of domestic abuse, and Garcia wants to strengthen union of a brain cyst that hospitalized her identification among early childhood eight years ago. educators. She’s reaching out to col- She watched Head Start suffer big leagues across the nation to organize cuts during the federal sequestra- for professional recognition and iden- tion. Billions of dollars in services to tify members of Congress who will Gloria Garcia poor families have not been restored. help restore the federal funding. Teachers work double sessions with

Kati Bassler • Salinas Valley Federation of Teachers Lita Blanc • United Educators of San Francisco

omen can be natural leaders commitments are essential to foster he president of this 6,200-member Wwho are able to work from a member engagement. And the local Tunion of teachers and paraprofes- place of empathy and strength, says union is doing just that. sionals wants to “strengthen it as a force Kati Bassler. By calling on those traits, This year, more members than ever for the defense of public education.” Bassler hopes to create in her union attended and spoke out at meetings As a bilingual elementary and literacy “a more positive culture and sense of of the high school district governing teacher of nearly 30 years — and also community.” board. And twice as many as last time a mother of grown children — Blanc She believes that listening to peo- voted on a new three-year contract is acutely aware of women’s issues re- ple’s concerns, building strong rela- that successfully addressed class size, garding balancing work and family. tionships, and following through on collaboration time for teachers, and She is accustomed to fighting for increased pay for adult equal access to opportunities — in- school teachers. cluding leadership roles in the union In an agricultural — and equal voice. region facing escalat- To hear more voices from the ing housing costs and classroom, Blanc, who is on full re- increased crime, teacher lease time, led listening tours during recruitment and turnover which officers and staff visited sites Lita Blanc are also problems. Out of throughout the large unified district 780 teachers working in to hear member concerns. of non-teaching time,” she said. the district, 100 were new One top concern was affordable The union created new committees this year. Bassler wants to housing. “Members can’t afford to to address testing, housing, immigrant increase support for the live here,” says Blanc. “Many are giv- rights, and issues raised by the Black new teachers. ing up apartments to couch surf or Lives Matter movement. “We want to By building the union moving to less expensive communi- engage educators not otherwise in- and maintaining a posi- ties requiring long commutes.” volved in traditional union structures.” tive labor-management Among classroom concerns, lack of Blanc is an innovative activist foster- partnership, Bassler support for managing student behav- ing new ways for new times: “Union hopes to boost the pro- ior and over-testing led the list. members want to stand up and fight fession and gain more “We’re fighting the Smarter Balanced for what they and their students de- public support in the Assessments and other district-mandat- serve. We are opening up a variety of Kati Bassler Salinas Valley. ed tests that require an insane amount avenues for their participation.”

12 California teacher April/may 2016 statewide teachingstatewide shortage. ranks, andnow, to helping the fill their incomes, diversifying faculty tials. In theprocess are they raising challenges to teaching earn creden- academic andeconomic of a range ployees andparaeducators overcome classified em- growing numbers of better.” I’m only makingmore get anditwill even atthelowest step asateacher, going to make any more money. Now, para. Iwasatthetop step andwasn’t AFT Local 1273. Teachersof andSchool Employees, theOxnard Federationa member of School. As shewasapara, when sheis severe disabilitiesatHueneme High moderate to students with works with Now inher first year asa teacher, she at California Lutheran University. credential asaneducation specialist ing her bachelor’s a andearning Ferguson on complet her set sights - break from school.” school, but two Ihad kidsandtook a ing her bachelor’s degree. finish- of year thethought sheburied students. needs special with And every working through theranks has risen come ateaching aide. Since then she test skills to- and to be passadistrict school diploma only ahigh needed the Oxnard school district.” high with applying of thought naturally and mom wasaparaeducator, soI Ferguson recalled. wasateacher“Dad efits wouldn’t cover meanymore,” benefits. good ther suggested for shelook ajob with ies, andafter afew semesters her fa- focus on her community college stud- was a20-something, shedidn’t really When ShannonFerguson CFT sponsors billtoassistsupportstafftransition tocertificatedstatus parasRightteachers When forthejob: become andclassified Classified CFT-sponsored legislation Ferguson isn’t alone. Each year, much pretty “I had topped out asa Until three years ago, when “I always wanted to go back to was21yearsThat ago, andFerguson “He saidthatsoonhisben- First asapara, nowasateacher, ShannonFerguson lovesworkingwithspecialneedskids. ees thatfundsareees available. Each dis- required to classified notify employ- thatreceiveThose would be agrant arenot all teacher facing shortages. apply for competitive grants, because and teacher credentials. four-year earn classified staff degrees education to help officescounty of and toprovide school districts grants McCarthy (D-Sacramento) would drive. Assembly Bill 2122by Kevin could kick thattrend into over “I hadprettymuchtoppedoutasapara. Iwas atthetop — ShannonFerguson, first-yearteacherandformerparaeducator, Oxnardschooldistrict and itwillonlygetbetter. even attheloweststepasateacher, I’mmakingmore step andwasn’t goingtomake any moremoney. Now, goo.gl/jtTBwO sified employeeswithcollegeexpenses at districts andcountyofficestoassistclas - islation AB 2122thatprovidesgrants to >Read thefulltextofCFT-sponsored leg- On theWeb Districts andcountyoffices Districts would - assists aspecialneedsstudentin ” Shannon Ferguson’s classroom. Paraeducator CindyFeltes her children. In thelong run, though, theworkload cutwhen into with time sion to go for acredential, especially Ferguson often questioned her deci- after work andhousehold chores, paying thosestudent loans.” “Now my be biggest challenge will I went for my credential,” shesaid. more than$50,000instudent debt. Ferguson, for example, racked up annually to pay for tuition andbooks. wouldticipants receive upto $4,000 students. As envisioned now, par hardest obstacles for returning Credentialing. from theCommission on Teacher to applicants on based criteria grants would determine howtrict to award During long nights of studying studying of long nights During when thegrants had they “I wish Economic the factors are one of

-

stephen osman and earning amaster’sand earning degree.” thinking aboutgoing astep further er considered itbefore, but now I’m answers.” thatteachersthings do. Now Ihave always wondered the aboutsome of job from sides. both As apara, I them,without but now the Icansee ers, andthework wouldn’t done get years inaclassroom. on herFerguson 21 anew viewpoint harder thelonger you wait.” finishing college.put off It only gets 11 years old, lesson: agood “Don’t her andson, daughter now 13and wouldshe decided theeffort teach And shehasnew questions. - “I nev “Paras work just ashard asteach- experienceThe hasalsogiven ing fairtous—andourfamilies. Senate. Committee andmovingontothe the Assembly Appropriations passing to theCPI, inthehopesof AB 1878 promise, abenefitof$3,000linked Employees agreedtoafurthercom- with inflation. Consumer PriceIndextokeep pace CalSTRS deathbenefitislinked tothe at $5,000. We haveexplainedhowthe $2,000 to$6,163andcompromised started outaskingforanincreasefrom heavy liftduetothefiscalimpact. We tion manytimesandweknowit’s a California students. for yourmanyyearsofpublicserviceto final wages. It’s a way tosaywelldone when wedieessentiallyrepresentsour and thebenefitoursurvivorsreceive the lowestpaidworkers ineducation benefits survivor Join ourfightfor fair April/ma Increasing thisbenefitisaboutbe- On May13, theCouncilofClassified We havepushedforthislegisla- Classified employeesaresomeof — BySteve Weingarten, CFTReporter

council president paula A.phillips y 2016California tea cher

< 13

Top: stephen osman Jimmy Kelly sings David Welch’s “Voting Blues”at this year’s CFT Convention. Community College

Honoring “letter carrier who sings” turned teacher Old school troubadour and modern among top labor artists and activists

Jimmy Kelly comes from a union at the beginning of the 20th century. Kelly got a job teaching labor studies “My idea,” Kelly explains, “was family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Amid the bitter labor wars of the at San Jose City College, and became to celebrate the birthday of Martin where his grandfather, father and two hard rock miners, Hill was jailed and an active member of the San Jose/ Luther King, who was killed support- brothers were all union members. “I executed in . The song, Evergreen Federation of Teachers, ing a garbage workers strike. To King, grew up in a different era, in a town “Joe Hill,” by and Earl AFT Local 6157. civil rights and labor was one move- that traced the origin of its labor Robinson, accuses the “copper bosses” As both carrier and teacher, Kelly ment — and it was 1986, the first year movement to the great strikes in the his birthday was a holiday. The festi- steel mills,” he recalls. “We learned val seemed a good way to keep it from labor terms in fourth grade.” being commercialized and its political That intimate connection to labor sha ro n be als content from being erased.” history has always been a big part of Kelly remembers that the AFL-CIO Kelly’s life, and this year he’s being had begun a campaign called “Union honored for handing that connec- Yes!” during this period. “We tried to tion down to a new generation of channel this idea through culture,” working people. At the Great Labor he says. The festival brings together Arts Exchange, an annual celebra- musicians to sing old labor songs and tion of labor culture and history, he write new ones, and showcases pho- will be given the Joe Hill Lifetime tographs, graphic design, drama, and Achievement Award. other forms of labor art. Joe Hill was a radical member of Kelly also helped start an annual the Industrial Workers of the World film festival in Santa Cruz called Reel Work. In his classes at San Jose City jim mahler College, he used it to help students > council president learn to analyze content, choose films, Folksinger Jimmy Kelly joins labor movement greats , Cesar Chavez, Phillips interact with producers, and market Semester finals and John Handcox as a recipient of the Joe Hill Lifetime Achievement Award. the festivals. This year’s far-reaching surprise “My students call me ‘old school,’” for labor was the sudden death of murdering him, and then imag- was also a founder of the Western he says with a smile. “But older folks of anti-union U.S. Supreme Court ines Hill singing defiantly “From San Workers Labor Heritage Festival. like me can help them make the con- Justice Antonin Scalia, leaving the Diego up to Maine/In every mine and He conceived the idea of the annual nection between social media and court without a conservative majority. mill/Where workers strike and orga- gathering after attending the Labor the labor and political context they’re Consequently, Friedrichs v. CTA was nize/It’s there you’ll find Joe Hill.” Arts Exchange in 1985. He was en- only just discovering.” decided on a 4-4 vote, keeping the In the meantime, Kelly still takes status quo in place — bargaining unit “My students call me ‘old school.’ But older folks like his guitar wherever he goes. He sang members receiving benefits from the union can be compelled to pay for them. me can help them make the connection between social to the occupiers in Berkeley, trying Another was the majority of com- to stop the privatization of its post munity college stakeholders finally media and the labor and political context they’re only office building. He brings his songs engaging in the fair accreditation just discovering.” — Jimmy Kelly, Folksinger to the CFT. “At our last Convention, I struggle. When the ACCJC began its sang David Welch’s ‘Voting Blues’ til reign of terror almost nine years ago That could easily have been written thralled with the music and roomed they pulled me away from the micro- — disaccrediting Compton College, about Jimmy Kelly, who for decades with John Handcox. phone,” he laughs. continuously interfering with collective brought his voice and guitar to picket Handcox had been an organizer — By David Bacon, CFT Reporter bargaining by mandating SLOs and lines and demonstrations for work- of black sharecroppers and ten- evaluation standards, and nearly ers’ rights. Thirty-five years ago he ant farmers in the South during the On the Web disaccrediting City College of San came to California and got a job with Depression, using songs and music to >Get inspired! Learn more about the Francisco — the CFT was alone in the the Postal Service in Santa Cruz, and give people courage and hope. Kelly annual Great Labor Arts Exchange that fight-back. eventually became president of Local came back to California and organized will be held June 23-26 in Silver Spring, Though the struggle is far from over, 1427 of the National Association of the first Western Workers festival Maryland, at laborheritage.org.

tis our successful, multi-faceted campaign Letter Carriers. He often called him- the following year. He and Handcox Learn about the Western Workers Labor clearly demonstrates the power of the Heritage Festival held the weekend of union movement — and why conser- self “a letter carrier who sings.” shared the stage, singing Handcox’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Burlingame famous song, “Roll the Union On.” C u r Russ p : To vatives want to dismantle it. After carrying the mail for 27 years, at westernworkersfestival.org

14 California teacher April/may 2016 Axel Borg says the top three negotiation concerns are competitiveness, compression, and consistency. University

Honoring “letter carrier who sings” turned teacher Librarians negotiate professional development and salary Old school troubadour and modern Joe Hill among top labor artists and activists Entry-level pay lower than at CSU and the community colleges

The University Council-AFT only consistency is that they are in- is negotiating with UC over two key consistent and inadequate.” articles of its contract covering librar- bob r iha j Goral, a veteran of many contract ians — salaries and professional de- negotiations with the university, velopment funds — says Axel Borg, doubts that it will be receptive to distinguished wine and food science these proposals, at least initially. bibliographer at UC Davis. He sums “We’re evaluated on our professional up the common concerns between the activity,” she says. “So we’re survey- union and the university as competi- ing our members to see what people tiveness, compression, and consistency. actually spend on professional de- Miki Goral, UCLA reference librar- velopment, as opposed to what the ian and council secretary treasurer, university pays.” points to the need to raise entry-level Goral says she recognizes that salaries in particular, currently starting departments and libraries face bud- at $47,000 per year, to make the uni- getary constraints “which sometimes versity competitive. “I don’t think the catch them between a rock and a university can easily hire people be- hard place. But they make choices cause it’s too low,” she says. “If we took on expenditures, and sometimes the the bottom three points off the salary way this funding is provided is ineq- scale, so that it started at $51,000, the uitable. We’re not saying it should all whole scale would move up, including be completely even, but it should be the top level.” Union negotiators say more fair.” entry-level salaries are higher at the — By David Bacon, CFT Reporter CSU and at community colleges. UCLA Reference Librarian Miki Goral has bargained many contracts for librarians. She says the administration needs to adjust its priorities, raise entry-level salaries, and provide more support. The university adopted a new rank- bob Samuels and-point scale in 2013 to rationalize who continue to perform at the very “If you have to travel anywhere east council president the percentage differences between highest level.” of the Rockies, you’ll use it up on just < every salary step. Since then, this sys- Consistency relates to support for one conference,” he explains. “I’ll use Still waiting for credibility, tem has been applied during each li- it all for going to the national meet- professional development. The 2014 accountability brarian’s merit review, a process set to contract clarified that professional ing, the conference of the be completed in July. Each point was activities, service, and research can be Society of American Archivists. If I The big takeaway of the recent to be the equivalent to a year’s worth relevant to a librarian’s career path, want to be involved in the California state audit of the UC according to the media was that UC replaced eligible of a normal merit increase, topping beyond her primary job description. organization, I’ll have to pay to go to students from California with high- out at $116,220 per year. The definition of those activities was the conference.” paying non-resident students. The Normal professional conference university has agreed to increase the “We’re evaluated on our professional activity. So we’re expenses include registration, airfare, number of students from California in surveying our members to see what people actually hotel and meals. “I understand what the future. the costs are, and I can choose,” says A larger problem has not been spend on professional development, as opposed to what Campbell. “But if you’re a younger dealt with, and it concerns how to librarian, you may not be able to han- pay for all of the new students and the university pays.” — Miki Goral, UCLA reference librarian dle that at an entry-level salary. If the how funds are distributed among the Describing this compression, expanded and defined to include any university wants topnotch librarians, campuses. As the audit rightly pointed Borg, the UC-AFT vice president for academic research, not just that per- that means people involved in national out, the UC has continued to fail to legislative affairs, explains that “the taining to library science. and statewide organizations. Someone produce a credible way of calculating top of the current pay scale has not The university, however, does not considering a job at UC is going to how much it costs to teach different levels of students, and this failure to changed in almost six years. We have fund those activities, despite expect- look at what the university is making comply with state legislation makes a significant number of librarians ing librarians to be at the top of available for professional development, it difficult to know how the university who have been stuck at the top. UC their field. Jared Campbell, a 15-year so this can make a difference.” spends state funds, tuition dollars, and should expect high performance from librarian at UC Davis, says that in According to Borg, the amount

other sources of income. t e s y uc d avis senior librarians, and, in all fairness, 2016 the limit for supporting travel to of professional development funds Fundamentally, no one knows how

recognize and reward those librarians professional conferences was $1,500. varies from campus to campus. “The much anything costs in the UC system. c o u r o p : t

April/may 2016 California teacher 15 You are the union…

Reporting Local Action Local Wire Around the State

t e s y l o cal 1021 Co u r The Bridge Street Elementary community in Los Angeles walked in for its school on May 4. Rank & Files

Jennifer Foreman, an English teacher at North Monterey High School in Castroville, and member of the North Monterey

County Federa- tesy bob coble

tion of Teachers, cour Local 4008, was named a Unionist Community walks in for public education of the Year at the annual Monterey Unionist of the Year Jennifer Reclaiming schools…. On May College, turned out to show support Foreman with state Sen. Bill Bay Central Labor Monning, D-Carmel. 4, teachers, support staff, parents, for the high-quality public schools Proposition 30 (passed in 2012) in- Council awards students, elected officials and others that all our students deserve. come taxes on the wealthiest 2 per- banquet in late April. participated in a series of walk-ins Some of the ideas promoted at cent of Californians, and community and other events in support of public these events included: Educational support so that we have safe, stable, Cynthia Meza, a 13-year teacher at education. Spurred on by the Alliance justice means wages that allow teach- and supportive schools. Flynn Elementary, and member of United to Reclaim Our Schools, which held ers and families to live in the area This was the second walk-in this Educators of San Francisco, Local 61, walk-ins across the country, CFT near where they work. It means au- year, following a successful event in was named by the California Association members in schools from districts in thentic collaboration and teachers February. for Bilingual Education as the organiza- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Daly City and parents involved together in deci- > Learn more about AROS at tion’s 2016 Teacher of the Year. Meza and Morgan Hill, as well as Cerritos sion-making. It means extending reclaimourschools.org. says a bilingual education enables her students to celebrate the richness of their home countries, with language learned not in isolation, but at the cross- LOCAL 1533 The organizers and volunteers held try faculty and Local President Lacy roads of culture and everyday life. Spring training… More than 20 about 200 conversations with fee pay- Barnes. Every faculty member at the organizers from the CFT’s Strategic ers at the four district campuses: meeting signed the petition. Jeannine Thurston, a member of Campaign Initiative converged on Fresno City, Reedley, Clovis and “Our work here opens up the po- the San Rafael Federation of Teachers, the Central Valley for a four-day Madera Colleges. They recruited 102 tential for the union to have a greater Local 1077, was named San Rafael membership drive in collaboration new union members and collected presence,” said Debbie Forward, from Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Month for April. Thurston has been with the State Center Federation of 176 petition signatures. the Palomar Faculty Federation. “You a leader in transforming the English Teachers. They joined 30 member have to start with conversations.” Despite a power outage at Reedley department at San Rafael High School volunteers in asking agency fee pay- College, they organized an impromp- to embrace the school’s diverse student ers to become full union members tu department meeting with chemis- LOCAL 4986 body. She has helped launch the Media and sign a petition urging the board Workers win back jobs!… More Academy eXperience — MAX — in of trustees to bargain over paid office than 26 months after their initial ter- which students use hands-on, project- hours for part-time faculty. minations, four more employees of the based learning combining English, social Sacramento Job Corps Federation of studies, and media production. Teachers are being returned to their LOCAL 6215 jobs — with full pay and benefits Tina Solórzano Fletcher, a Local support… The Cerritos College — according to a May 17 decision from member organizer for the AFT Guild, Faculty Federation is at impasse in its con- the National Labor Relations Board. San Diego and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community Colleges, Local 1931, was tract negotiations with the district and the That means, to date, nine Job Corps honored with the PSRP Talking Union local is putting its resources to work. They have workers who were unjustly fired have Award at AFT’s annual conference organized faculty members to make presenta- been reinstated and made whole. In for paraprofessionals and classified tions before the board of trustees and held President Solomon Namala inspires jessica ulstad addition, the NLRB ruled that six resi- employees in April. Fletcher is member- numerous actions on campus. members before a board action. dential coordinators were unlawfully ship coordinator for the 6,000-member They have also garnered support from their removed from the bargaining unit. It local union, which also won first place state Assemblyperson, who is a former community college math instructor also adopted the administrative law from CFT the last two years in a row for herself. Cristina Garcia, D-Downey, wrote a letter urging the Cerritos College Board judge’s finding that the co-employers organizing the most new members. of Trustees to work together with the union for resolution. are liable for the unfair labor practices.

16 California teacher April/may 2016