A History of the California Federation of Teachers, 1919-1989

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AUTHOR Glass, Fred, Ed. TITLE A History of the California Federation of Teachers, 1919-1989. INSTITUTION California Federation of Teachers. REPORT NO ISBN-0-9624601-0-9 PUB DATE 89 NOTE 131p. PUB TYPE Historical Materials (060)

EDRS PRICE MF01 21us Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Elementary Secondary Education; Labor Relations; *State History; Teacher Associations; *Teaching (Occupation); *Unions; United States History IDENTIFIERS *American Federation of Teachers; California; *California Federation of Teachers

ABSTRACT The history of the California Federation of Teachers, spanning 70 years, is documented in this book that contains two parts. The first part of the book discusses the teachers' union in the context of each of the seven decades of its existence: "1920s: The Conditions of Teachers"; "1930s: A Debating Society Struggles to Survive"; "1940s: The War and Its Aftermath"; "1950s: The Teachers Union That Came in from the Cold War"; "1960s: 'Teacher Power'"; "1970s: The Politics of Diversity"; and "1980s: Teacher Unions Come of Age." The second part of the book features brief histories of the various California local branches of the American Federation of Teachers. (DB)

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EDITED AND DESIGNED BY Fred Glass ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book is the result of contributions from generous people too numerous to mention here. Special attention must he drawn, however, to the work of the CET History Advisory Committee, which included Maurice Englander, Wanda Faust, Bob Gabriner, Jim Herndon, Eddie Irwin, Ken Lane, Gerry Meister, Miles Myers, Marjorie Murphy, Raoul Teilhet, and Hy Weintraub.I would also like to thank others who read the manuscript and provided me with helpful suggestions: Mary Bergan, Joe Berry, Norm Diamond, and Maureen Katz. Deborah Samarin and Harriet Talan gave me a valuable push in the direction of sources at the outset. The prime keeper of these was Robert Marshall, the CIT's archivist at the California State University, Northridge Urban Archives, who knew where things were and led me to them. Donna Siu regularly performed extraordinary feats of wordprocessing at a moment's notice. Gretchen Treuting consulted on des* Anstintingly. Craig Lieberman, student intern, catalogued files in the dust of ages. Julie Minard inspired me to work for the Cyr in the first place, and told me some of the best stories, a few of which wen, suitable to retell in the essay. Despite the best efforts of all these people, I alone bear final responsibility for whatever flaws are to be found herein. Fred Glass

Cover design by Jos Sancez

ISBN 0-9624601-0-9

Published in 1989 hy the California Federation of Teachers at Warren's Waller Press in South San Francisco, California TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE 4

A HISTORY OF THE CAIIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 1920s: The Condition of Teachers 5

1930s: A "Debating Society" Struggles to Survive 12

1940s: The War and Its Aftermath 16

1950s: The Teachers Union That Came InFrom the Cold War 20

1960s: "Teacher Power" 24

1970s: The Politics of Diversity 30

1980s: Thacher Unionism Comes of Age 37

Sources 43

HISTORIES OF CALIFORNIA AFT Locms 44

SOLIDARITY GREETINGS 116 THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, teachers formed unions, and these representing almost 60,000 educational changes survive oniy because teachers employees served by CFT contracts continue to have unions. In the history throughout the state, is affiliated with hook that you hold in your hands, you the Anwrican Federation of Teachers will discover your roots as an educator (almost 800,000 members nationwide), and unionist in California. It is my hope the California Federation of Labor ( 1.4 that our storythe story of the CFT million Californians), and the AFL-CIO will inspire you to join with us in the (14.6 miliion members nationwide). We work that still lies ahead. have 24 service centers in California, a A History of tbe California Fed- lobbying office in Sacramento, eration of Teachersshould also help and a range of special services, us understand the new directions that from insurance and travel pro- our union is now exploring. Our history grams to sabbatical hoards. shows us that legal defense, collective Preface Why did the CET also think bargaining, and political involvement it neededA History of the have brought essential changes to our California Federation of educational systems,but these instru- Teachers?Many of the new teachers ments have not enabled us to restructure who have joined the ranks of the Cyr in teaching and learning tothe extent recent years have no knowledge about needed by our changing society.To what the CFI has dor.e to change schools accomplish that goal. we need to work over the last half century. Imagine, for toward the full professionalization of example, that you were being fired our membership. This means we must because you were over 40 and a woman establish high standardsfor h stu- ( Elizabeth Baldwin ) or because you wore dentsand colleagues. develop our a beard (Paul Finot), or because you knowledge base about teaching and participated in a peacefulpolitical learning, expand the ways of knowing demonstration as a student teacher available to students in our classnmms, (Richard Broadhead) or because you and assume a major share of the respon- wrote a letter-to-the-editor criticizing the sibility for the quality of education in oue administraticm of the schools (lack communities. Owens). These events were not uncom- Today we stand on the verge of mon in pre-collective bargaining schools. bringing this program of pn)lessionali- The California Federation ot Teach- zation into being. That story remains for ers has created school systems in which the next CFT history book. teachers can participate in community politics, can live alternate life styles in ther private lives, and can criticize the Miles Myers, President administration of their schools.This California Federation of Teachers achievement was possible only because Fall, 1989

4 A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 1919-1989

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Signs of the times at the March Jiir Education, acramento,1967 (sucan Mull:illy photo)

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 7 A History ofthe CaliforniaFederation ofTeachers

Teachers sufkred muchmore in the techniques pioneered during 1920s than they do today the War to from the low decry gains won byorganized labor for social status accordedtheir work. workers. labelling anything Prompted by abysmal connected pay, the young with unions "Bolshevik."As a result. American Federation ofTeachers public opinion in the 11nited demanded a $2,000 States turned minimum annual against unions, threatening the salary at the end of the precarious decade, and a hold they had achievedin American maximum "...which wouldprovide a social life. cultural real wage enablingthe teachers Palmer and his associates tolive according singled to the out the radical Industrial Workersof the requirements of their position." World (also calledthe lW\X' or the But low paywas just Wobblies), which the beginning of proclaimed its the story dedication to the principleof "one big 1920s leading to teacherunionism. union" for all workers, for especially Working conditions andcivil harsh treatment. Numbering liberties in the United less than a States hundred thousand, the IWWnonetheless were under widespread attack by The Condition ofTeachers ultra- exerted a militant influenceon many conservative forces: the conditionof more industrial workers in significant teachers mirrored thesebroader social areas of the country. Wartime problems. Most teachers patriotic resented but fervor and its aftereffectshelped make felt helpless before theserious limitations the Wobblies' anti-militarist placed on their academic stand on the freedom and United States'entry into the European job security byautocratic school hoards conflict in 1917 and school administrations. an easy target for their A few brave anti-union opponents. Bythe mid-20s teachers foundways to challenge these the IWW's leaders%Yere in prison or oppressive circumstances. deported, its membershipdecimated. In 1919 several small teacherunion In such a political climate, loca!s powerful ou nded the California State employer groups easily Federation of Teachers. destroyed the It was an sieelworkers unitn, some quarter of a inauspicious year in which to launch a million workers. aftera disastrous strike statewide teachers union.Following in 1919. A creative %'ariety of the end of hostilities intimidation. in Europe, U.S. company unions aridpaternalistic Attorney General MitchellPalmer led corporate welfare plans discouraged government and business leaders in a further organization.Even moderate xenophobic. super-patriotic campaign craft unions of theAmerican Federation for "American values." Lawenforcehlent of Labor to which the young teachers' officials and vigilante groups were union belonged could not escape the encouraged to carry out "Palmer Raids", anti-union backlash.Hundreds of mass arrests and deportationswhich foreign-born workers created an amu)sphere of were deprwted. termr for thousands of activists jailed,and some immigrant workers and union activists. even lynched during the Palmerera. an Conservative newspaper columnistsand historical forerunner of by Fred Glass businessmen utilized the McCarthy- propaganda era "red scare." For the next decadeand a half asmaller, embattled union you think that there are noconditions proper "patriotic attitudes"would he movement struggled to survive, barely which might justifya teacher in instilled in the children of immigrants. able toprovide complaining of his Emboldened by the generally anti-civil liberties atmosphere of the era, many minimal protections superior?" states passed laws hindering the exercise to workers. Responded Dr. The The "Jazz Age" Maxwell, of teachers' constitutional rights. decade did provide "Absolutely none." "Lusk Laws" in New York, for example, some working Arbitrary declared in 1921 that administrator Americans, in entering the public school including teachers, decisions affecting were system the teacher assumes with a glimpse of the teachers certain obligations and must of consumer society to rampant. There necessity surrender some of his come, before it was were virtual:) no Isicl intellectual freedom.If he buried for a while uniform salary does not p prove of the present beneath the Great schedules. social system or the stmcture of Depression. Ma is Teachers at our wwernment he is at liherty to production schools within the entertain these ideas, but must industries began to same district,or surrender this public office. produce vast eventeachers quantities of within the same Local school boards presented household items. schools, received teachers with a creative variety of Advertising for the wildly divergent restrictions on their teaching methods, the life of pay despite similar content and political expression. At good often gave consumables soon or identical same time, schml boards filledthegaps qualifications; the carte blanche to corporations to make between programs criteria were solely presentations to classrooms on matters One mirconception (lithe IWW tfrom the thoseofthe affecting their products, whi!,.. denying on the new OroBig Union Montbly,19201 entertainment principal's whim. access to opposing pointsof view. medium, radio.For those withmore Older teachers were often released, and Responding to questionable sclu)ollxyard limited visual imagination, movies younger teachers, presumablywilling to practices, Professor Paul Douglas (later askeda portrayed the lavish lifestyle possible, if accept less pay, were hired toreplace Senator fromIllinois) them.Friends and relatives of school fundamental question at the 1929 All' only one possessed enough money to why was attain it.But for most workers and their board members and administrators national convention: families, consuming these images was as commonly gained teaching jobs ahead educational policy "...allowed to be close as they could get to living such a of more qualified applicants. determined by vaudevillepl.( anoters, life; the weak state of the unions ensured once hired, teachers discovered no and real estate agents, and lawyers, and bankers, every interest in the community that middle class lifestyles remained out sanctuary in their classroom; andthe of reacn. The jazz Age' wasn't so jazzy source of disruptions to teaching was sitting on school boards, except teachers?" for working people in the 'Roaring not limited to the immediateschool Control over teacherinside the classroom apparently didn't satisfy Twenties'. environment. The 1925 Scopes Trial in It is difficult to imagine today the Tennessee, deciding whether teachers autocratic administrators' urges. Sell( level of intimidation experienced daily might instruct their students about boards sought to expand their dictatorial by classroom teachers of the enly Darwin's generally accepwd theory of powers to their employees' privatelives, decades of this century. Teachers were evolution, represented merely the tip of and fired teachers fOr infrequency of ornot often fired merely for offering criticism a large and dangerousiceberg threatening church attendance, failing to vote, to a principal or administrator. For the ability of teachers to carry out their turning out at the local Liberty Bond instance, Dr. Henry Linville, later to work without interference. parade. Many scluiol districts dismissed such serious become the first president of the New Centralized textbook selection, women instructors for York City Teachers' Union, aske0 the institutionalized in the years after the infractions as wearing the "wrong" New York City Superint.mdeni of World War, took decisionmaking out of clothing and hairstyles, being over forty, getting married. Schools, William Maxwell, in 1905, "Do the hands of teachers to ensure that the and the ultimate sin

A HISTORY OF THE CALI ORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 7

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 9 Individual contracts, in those (lays before work,Its appeal to the largely middle come off the streets and out of the collective bargaining, often specified that class women teachers hungon a thread factories to acquire the basic tools for marriage constituted grounds for of common interest.Members of the participation in a democracy. immediate termination. If teachers AFT, conscious that they workedamong Not all Al I. leaders were supremely managed to make it through acareer, the children of the workhg population, happy at the prospect of teachers in their retirement benefits were paltry. recognized the potential power inan ranks. Some of the more conservative Given these problems, it seems alliance with the parents of their students, among them, especially in the building remarkable that anyone went into the both for themselves (economically) and trades unions, were quite willing to "profession" atall. Those who did for their charges (politically). support public education, hut drew the choose teaching for their occupation Labor, for its part, felt teachers to be line at calling teachers "brothers",or quickly ran up against the contradiction a natural ally, at least in one respect. The even worse "sisters". The somewhat between the lahel "professional" and the longtime president of the AFL, Sam tenuous early connection between rather more sordid reality. It shouldnot wnpers, undoubtedly articulated the teachers and organized labor, varying be surprising, at least in retrospect, that feelings of his rank and file. when he by geographic circumstance and local at some point something had to break. made his famous statement regarding cultural traditions, gradually grewmore The final straw that pushedmany teachers labor's program: solid over the years. beyond previous limits on their thinking After several resounding defeats in and actions was a wave of attacks by We want more schix ilhouses and post-World War I strikes, the AFL urged school boards, inspired hy the Palmer less jails; more hooks and less public employee union arsenals: more to renounce mentality, on individuals and groups of strikes. This was "unpatriotic" teachers. learning and less vice: more essentially a strategy for The situation clearly was intolerable, constant work and corm survival.AFT leaders and some teachers realized itwas not less greed; more accepted Gompers' about to get any better without a union. lIStice and less cautious approach, and revenge. maintained, mostly for The National AFT FEDERA IMP the sake of public Founded in1916, the American The first unions Certificats of ON acceptance.that its locals Federation of Teachers rose upon the recognized early in would never be drawn fc)undation of earlier teachers' struggles the 19th century that . I . into a strike. The union's for control over their lives and work. In workerschildren Attorrstsit7.170;r44/0 21;as/re positionsprobably particular the Chicago Federation of needed to learn to represented the limits of Teachers, led by firebrand organizer read and write in order : teacher actionin the to Margaret Haley, set an impressive participate constraining conditions example for teachers across the nation politically in the new of the post-war decade. in the early years of the century. In both republican society. By Indeed, even with the Chicago and New York the founders of the latter part of the polite methods es- the union organized on a platform calling century, labor saw that ,poused by the All' in for corporations to pay their fair share of its young people the 20s, barely one fifth taxes to suppcm-t education, along with could gain greater I of the locals chartered direct advocacy for teachers. The leaders social and economic since 1916 were still of the fledgling AFT decided to affiliate opportunities only 3,errrrn, ,.., around by 1927. with the craft union-oriented American througha strong l.hader hi the American Ifrelatively con- system of mandatory Federahon1/Teachers, 79/6 Federation of Labor (AFL) toutilize. servative by pre-World organized labor's greater numbers (at public education.Schools served the War I union standards, the Anus positions that time, around 5 million members) additional practical purpose of getting in the 20s were positively radicalin and financial resour. c.s in the struggle children out of the factories, where their comparisim with inany of those taken by for improved conditions for teachers presence drove down the wages of the National Education Asstwiation. By and schools. adults. Once the unions succeeded in far the larger organization, the NEA had The AFL practiced a type of unionism getting child labor laws passed. living existed for nearly sixty years when the that emphasized pride incraft and wages woukl 1)eccnne more attainabk.. All' received its AFL charter. Contrary to valorized skilled labor over unskilled But most significantly, children would its claims to represent teachers, however,

BEST COPY MAILAki I 0 conventions were filled with the Association was dominated by school teachers. Fortunately, the popular The uni' administrators, who consistently refused Governor of New York, Al Smith, rode discussions about how to achieve tenure, legislative efforts into office in 3923 on a platform that the efficiency of a two-year probationary at the school site and in procedures, to support teachers where itwould count: included repeal of the restrictive laws. period, dismissal By hy sharilg in decision-making, granting Two years later the young union representation and the like. developing this expertise and creating larger salaries, and throwing their weight turned its attention to another academic behind pro-teacher legislation. The first freedom case in Dayton Tennessee, statewide legislative committees supported by organized labor, the AFT president of the AFT, Charles Stillman, where a high school scienc e. teacher, argued, "Experience has shown during john Scopes, was tried and convicted of exercised an immense impact on subsequent efforts to achieve the last half century that any organization admitting school officials has rapidly tenure laws. become an organization primarily of, John Dewey's APT membership supported the by, and for such officials."The early notionthattheunion development of the AFT in certain crucial farthest respects was defined by itsdifferences represented the A inthinking on with the NEA, and it was on the basis of frontiers education. Issued AFT those differences that the union recruited membership card #1, the its membership. Adminstrators and boards of progressive philosopher and education were fond of reminding Columbia professor lent his prestige to Arr organizing underpai(l teachers that theirs was a efforts, spoke out on the vocation of self-sacrifice for the greater ofteacher good of the public.Thi.i appeal was importance made especially t:) women the unionism and participated actively in union affairs.His overwhelming majority of teachers Rural segregated classroom who were admonished thatit was article "Why I am a Member of unfeminine to make trade union-like teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. the Teachers' Union" was reprinted and demands tor higher wages. Undaunted, The Scopes tiial helped the .union to widely distrihuted. Equally far-sighted %vas the AEI's AFT teachers pioneered in the movement sharpen itsthinking about academic to convince the public thatwell-paid freedom; it worked together with the demand for teacher participation in teachers were more like)), to devote ACLU to defend Scopes. The 1925 AFT educational policvmaking. Dewey had stated in 1928 that teachers were public themselves to their calling. The logic of convention resolved that "It is our belief this position brought the AFT to the that the Tennessee anti-evolution law is servants, and therefore beholden more to their mission to educate than tolocal principle of "equal pay for equal work" a menace not only toeducational and Earlier, at the 1925 long boore it became a popular slogan, religious liberty, but to political liberty as school boards. convention, the union had proposed a crucial proposalt'or an organization well." I 7nflinching defense of academic of freedom, whether the threat came from "the establishment of Teacher Councils and occupation with a majority controlled by the teachers and women. courts, administrators, clergy or corporations, remained a hallmark of participating in the determinatkm of After World War I the union educational pAicy." A few years later defended three socialist anti-war teachers the AFT: it consistently fc night for freedom the AFT reached a more directly political from New York City despite ti emendous of expressiom against what it termed "the pressure to conform to the waveof invisible go-ernnlent." decision to attempt where feasible to patriotic fervour in the war's wake. By The tight for tenure laws preoccupied exercise democratic influence over school boards through the ballot box. wav of intimidationthe New York the AFT throughout the 20s. Few states Dewey coined the slogan, "Education legislatureI( gmed a committee to had passed tenure bills at that time. One exception was Illinois, where Margaret for Democracy", to illustrate the union's investigate "subversion" and included belief that teachers needed to be the An as one of itstargets. The Haley had lobbied a law in 1917 that politically active themselves if they were legislature, over the opposition of the contained thefirstteacher tenure the essence AFT. passed what were known asthe provisions in the country. AFT literature to effectively teach children of democracy. Lusk laws, which i demanded k)yalty oaths on the issue closelyprefigured the laws Although the AFT was not yet in a and provided for thc easy dismissalof that were eventually passed elsewhere,

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BEST COPY AVAILABLE I position to bring many of these ideas to expressing mildly dissenting views from under ROO members atitsbirth. fruition,their presentation and those of ultra-patriotic groups.Paul Recruitment exceeded everyone's propagation represented an enormous Mohr, longtime SFFI president anda expectations at first, and hopes were step forward Um classroom teachers. statewide president in the late 20s, looked high for rapid expansion. No one could Where there are ideas there is hope; and back to the founding of his organization have foreseen that despite principled the AFT was preparing itself to transform in the June 1927 American Teacher, and and often heroic battles fought by the the ideas into reality. recalled that its objectives, left out of CSFT on behalf of its colleagues, little public statements at the time, also headway would be made in expansion California State Federation included "to hind the young locals firmly of the statewide organization's numerical of Teachers together against attacks from enemies of strength for more than two ..%:cades. Olive Wilson, later the t hird president the teacher-union movement" and "to From the outset the center of the of the California State Federation union was northern California. of Teachers, began teaching in Except for the chartering of 1880, and taught elementary I promise to take a vital interest in allphases of Local 77 in Los Angeles, which school in Vallejo starting in 1900. Sunday-school work, donating of my time, service, in any case was driven out of In 1918 she helped found the and money without stint for the uplift of the community. I promise to abstain from all dancing, existence by the late 20s, no firstlocal of the American immodest dressing, and other conduct unbecominga southern locals appeared until Federation of Teachers in teacher and a lady. I promise not to go out withany the mid-30s. Membership California, Local 26. young men except insofar as it may be necessary to stimulate Sunday-school work, I promise not to fall numbers fluctuated wildly in A few months afterits in love, to become engaged or secretly married. I some locals from year to year formation in early 1919, the San promise not to encourage or tolerate tht least due to recurring bouts of Francisco familiarity on the part of my boy pupils. I promise to Federationof sleep at least eight hours a night, to eat carefully, and administration and civic Teachers, AFT Local 61, hosted to take every precaution to keep in the best of health pressure, and inconsistent seven other newly chartered AFT and spirits in order that I may better be able to render efficient service to my pupils. I promise to remember resolve on the part of the locals, including Vallejo, from that I owe a duty to the townspeo_ple who are paying teachers.A worse problem around northern Califmnia in a my wages, that I owe respect to the school board and confronting teachers willing meeting to discuss the creation the superintendent that hired me, and that I shall to ofganize was the common of a state federation of teachers' consider myself at all times the willing servant to the school boardendthe townspeople and that I shall disappearance of entire locals unk ms. (It is possible that a cooperate with them to the limit of my ability in any shortly after chartering. Of the representative of the then-secret movement aimed at the betterment of the town, the pupils, or the schools. ten California locals that Los Angeles I.ocal 77 attended appeared in1918-19, only the event.Anti-union fee:ings Sacramento and San Francisco ran so strongly on the school Contract from aNorthCamlina town in 1930s still thrived by 1930. Several boardthatopenunion more had arrived on the scene membership was equivalent to a dismissal build up a central fund for the defense of in the meantime, but their hold on life notice.) At that meeting on May 31, the any teacher suffering unjust treatment at remained tenuous. representatives of these eight small but the hands of local school officials," An Locals sometimes went under for determined organizatkms decided to important factor making the new reasons other than intimidation.On found a state federation for two stated organization possible was the infusion occasion the mere threat of a union purposes:as an infOrmation clearing- of veterans back from Workt War I caused school boards to come up with house for locals, and to give teachers a willing to stand up for themselves and various improvements, just to keep the means to express their opinion on exercise some leadership against union out. One member of the secret statewide educational matters. intimidation, Los Angeles local io the mid-20s reported An unstated reason for the In October 1919 the locals met once that upon hearing meeting called by emergence of a state teachers federation more in San Francisco and the California a national AFT or:4. nizer, the school was the need for mutual support amon,..; State Federation of Teachers (CS171') was board met immediately and voted a raise locals in sonwtimes dire circumstances. born, with Samuel G. McLean,a for all teachers. Victims of their slight Cal& nnia was especially hard-hit by Sacramento High School teacher, elected success, a few locals secured immediate Attorney General Polmer's hunt for itsfirst president.Olive Wilson was demands and promptly folded. "subversives." Teachers were taunted, elected vice president. Despite all these problems the CSET publicly humiliated and firedfor The new organization boasted just and its members persevered.Beyond

1 0 records do not reveal for how long it sheer survival in a hostile environment, probationary teaching. McLean and the the organization could point to credible SFFT's Mohr worked closely with existed. Writing in 1927, Paul Mohr believed accomplishments.One important California Labor Federation president that "perhaps the greatest service that activity, absolutely crucial to its viability, Paul Scharrenberg to ensure passage. the State Federat! m has rendered the was building links withthe rest of Unfortunately, the law was amended in teachers of California and of the United organized labor. In fact, the San Francisco 1927 to exclude teachers in smaller and Sacramento locals succeeded where districts, and hostile forces continued to States has been to force some democratization at least of the old-line many of their colleagues Liled in large chip away atit throughout the next orthodox teachers' associations". As a part because of theirfortunate births decade. within cities sporting solid labor With the labor federation's assistance result of the arrival of the AFT in the movements, which protectedand the CSFT pushed a bill to triple teacher educational picture, "The class-room teacher has been given some recognition nourished the An locals. retirement pay stuck since 1913 at in the deliberations of general teachers' Of course, in 1919 teacher affiliation $500/year past hoth houses of the state legislature, only to bevetoed on associations; he has even been allowed with labor itself was seen as a threat by separate class-room conservative school administrators, the governor's desk. Despite this setback, tohave a government officials, newspaper McLean said that "An important thing organization as superintendents have had all along and here and there he has publishers, and captains of industry. from the union standpoint, however, been given the privilege of sitting in on The San Francisco chronicle in Decem- has been the recognition of the State Councils of Administration."Mohr ber 1919 complained that "outsiders" Federation as a definite factor in the lamented that new teachers didn't know were agitating among theteachers, and educational work of the state." this history; they thought, rather, thatthe the S.F. school board passed a resolution In San Francisco and Sacramento small measure of input allowed them in in April 1920 forbidding teachers to join the teachers unions pulled together the National Education Association and any organization "havingthe power to committees to survey salaries across despite the their cities. In San Francisco particularly itscouncils had always been there, call a strike or a walkout" instead of pressured into being by the express disavowal of thestrike weapon the local received favorable publicity for If it knew its efforts at a "scientific" survey,funded AFT. by Local 61's constitution. The first decade of the California about this disclaimer, the Board ignored by an assessment of its members. State Federation of Teachers endedwith it in favor of the higher calling of union- The CSFT helped a number of considerably less to cheer about than its bashing. Teachers fearing for theirjobs teachers in legal suits, mostly for wrongful beginning. Membership had fiillen off to dropped their membership. The Labor dismissal. In Santa Cruz, Albany, Fresno Council attempted to pressure the and other places the state union did a few hundred hardysouls, and of nearly Superintendent, a member of the what it could to assist teachers to win twenty locals chartered before1929, musician's union, to get the Board to through the courts what it could not only seven remained; several of these existed mostly on paper. Worse, no new rescind its proclamation, but to no avail. achieve through local strength.The locals had been chartered at all between The Board did, however, back down most successful legal effort seemsto 1921 and 1928. The political atmosphere from its threat to tire any union teacher, have been in Fresno, where, following itstoll, and deep-stated More promising displays oi the merits severalteachers'dismissalfor had taken prejudices against women, unions and of affiliation occurred at about the same "incompetence" a libel action ago:nst teacher organization combined to sap time. CSFT President McLean reported the Superintendent was undertaken and the energies of all but the most devoted in the February, 1920 AmericanMacher won. CSFT adherents. Yet all was not gloom. that two teachers suspended by the San Inat least one city wherethe Francisco School Board were reinstated Federation was strong, Sacramento. The new organization had established itself' as a voice for teachers;it had thanks to the Labor Council, which, at teachers achieved, albeit briefly,a request of the SETT, sent measure of shared governance.Boasting forged its bonds with labor, the bedrock the of its social support; and it had survived. representatives to reason with the Board. a high membership inthe early years of In the following decade it washard- Labor support was also instrumental in the decade, the president of Local 31 pressed to maintain even these modest passage of the 1921 state tenurelaw. was invited by theSuperintendent to One of the most progressive inthe consult with him on forming teacher- achievements, country at the time, it providedfor a management councils for important public hearing and representation by decisionmaking matters.The council counsel at dismissal after two years was formed; unfortunately,available

A. HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS 11

3 If the previous ten years had been elitist attitude toward unskilled workers traumatic for teachers and their union, ensured that these mostly immigrant the early 30s proved nearly unbearable. and second-generation workers wouldn't Added to all their other problems was become union members. AFL leaders the minor difficulty of national economic also refused the entreaties of the more collapse.More than a quar .-1. of the progressive unions within its ranks to try nation's population became unemployed to ameliorate the lot of the unemployed. in the years following the stock market Dissatisfaction with the lack of crash of 1929.After Franklin D. militancy of the AFL leadership and Roosevelt's election in1932, on a disagreement with its strategies led Democratic Party platform lifted plank several unions, pushed by John L. Lewis' by plank from the Socialist Party's (social United Mine Workers, to break away security, unemployment insurance, labor from craft unionism in 1935 and found law and banking rciorm, minimum wage, theCommitteeforIndustrial etc.) working people began to feel some Organization, later Congress of Industrial hope for their future.But before th:.! Organizations the CIO. Committed to New Deal programs started to make a organizing the unorganized, the unskilled difference, prospects remained alongside the skilled, the unemployed bleak for teachers. Speaking of as well as working people, and to a the effects of the Depression in model of militant, bottom-up action, the his 1935 article in American CIO unions helped support a wave of Thacher, "The Teacher and the militancy that created the modern Public", John Dewey explained, American labor movement. The passage of the National Labor Relations Act, or A "Debating Society" Salary or wage cuts are almost Wagner Act (1935), giving workers the Struggles to Survive universal. Multitudes of schools legal right to organize and form unions, have been closed. Classes have been enlarged, reducing the opened the floodgates, pushing the AFL capacity of teachers to do their into organizing, too. work. Kindergartens and classes The AFT debated leaving the for the handicapped have been relatively conservative AFL for the militant lopped off, Studies that are CIO, with some locals such as New indispensable for the production York's Local 5 and Los Angeles' new of the skill and intelligence that Local 430 establishing independent societyneeds have been contacts and joint activities with local eliminated. The number of the unemployed has been increased CIO unions. The national AFT, however, in consequence, and the mass after protracted debates in conventions consuming power necessary for and in the pages of American Teacher, recovery has been contracted. decided that its best course of action was to work for unity of the two labor The lot of the teacher was worse federations from within the AFL. than it had been when the AFT was The discussions within the An must fOrmed twenty years before. But teachers be understood in context. The were not ak me. The AFL's strategy of Depression led many Americans to cooperation with the employers reaped conclude that the capitalist system had hitter fruit; its membership plunged to failed. Before revelations had reached less than 10% of the workforce. these shores about life under Stalin, the Observerswondered whether it might Soviet Union seemed to offer a rational not disappear altogether. The craft alternative, The Communist Party union orientation of the AFL was not attracted inteller:tuals and workers by well-suited to organizing the new mass the thousands, and like the 1WW before production industries; some of its leaders' it, influenced fly: thinking and actions of

1 2 1 4 many more. Fmm the mid30s to the late offered its ....011111111EIR4 P .01110 ((I114 I 'Tr) 40s ardent defenders of civilliberties, assistance to locals militant unionists and other activists in and state groups of t( !Ill I 11/j1 progressive movements joined or worked teachers. III . Pill liiI lee, As in the 20s, with the Communists (and Socialists and I.:11P1 IA another central Trotskyists) because they spoke out and 1 1I li lp acted against injustice and in favorof a concern was the ' of Li 'il Y.IPJ 311 ,* better world for all. defense lir/ 'I In the AFT political divisionsbetween academic freedom. i llil The legal defense liberal, bread-and-butter unionists in 11.3:11 i!IAN Chicago and the Midwest and their more case of Morris U. 44-.4 3,,3,!31% we! Schappes in New leftwing, .3It' counterpartsin New York and York helped spark Philadephia nearly tore apart the union. membership The battle over CIO affiliation was but growth in Local 5 one consequenceof this political split amongcollege within the AFT. professors, even Despite itsinternal conflicts the while that local was national teachers' union made slowbut in turmoil over steady progress throughout the 30s. internal politics. Tenure, salary and the fight against The president of the cutbacks were again leading issues for national AFT during lIpp II 411111111 1111 I the A17, and its stands on these matters the mid to late 30s, It II i Ion,111 11116.01 II 1.1'1' I helped raise its membership from 7,000 Jerome Davis, was P1111,;'1 to 32,000 (mostly inNew York and firedfromhis ib professor's post at Chicago).The AFT, in fact, despite its Noble sentiments from American School BoardJournal, December '32 modest size, found itself at the centerof Yale University the struggle over educationi many after teaching there the same time.WPA teachers were localities, since boards of education, for 12 years for his union activities and left-wing political sympathies. His usually public school teachers on welfare. with the hand of chambers of commerce These successes led the newly- behind them, sought to cut programs, defense campaign brought protests from hatched House Un-American Activities and labor councils were needed to the NEA, AAUP, and Progressive Committee (HUAC), led by Martin Dies, counterbalance the struggle. The small Education Association Lgainst Yale, to turn its baleful eye onteachers union teachers' unions were well-placed to which finally responded by paying him activities in 1938. This variation ofthe bring the rest of labor into the ballgame. an extra year's salary.(It didn't rehire recurrent Red Scare, lesseffective than As for tenure, an editorial in the him, however.) The 1936 AFT convention either the earlier Palmer or later McCarthy November/December 1936 American featured a debate and resolution versions, nevertheless kept the AFT and itto be "the chief condemning loyalty oaths as a condition Teacher declared other progressive organizations busy problem before us at the present time", of employment; so much attention was defending their basic constitutional rights. salaries devoted to the issue that it became the stating that "It precedes even The difference between this and other and academic freedom since tenure is a theme of the meeting. Red Scares was the steadily growing prerequisite for both."At the end of In cities where cutbacks, large pay cuts, payment in scrip anddelayed checks strength of the labor movement, backed 1936, 27 states, accounting for over 50% by the ability of the liberal NewDeal of all teachers nationally, still had yearly were common, teachersflocked to the administration to defend its allies. individual contracts for teachers or no union. The New York local grewfrom contracts at all.The AFT passed 1500 to 4200 in just over sixmonths resolutions at its conventions, gotlabor despite a split that lost several hundred The CSFT to do the same,built educational members. A separate local of Works In marked contrast to the AfTs Progress Administration (WPA)adult coalitions and pressured local and state growth in the Midwest and East Coast It also education teachers, with a membership legislatures to pass tenure laws. was stagmtion inCalifornia. A measure drafted model tenure language and of 2500, was organized rapidly at about

13 A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS of the poor shape of the CSFT comes to Teachers has been reborn and is now school, of his opposition to war; his us via a report on the semi-annual living an active career." We may infer condemnation of William Randolph meeting ot the organization in 1932. from these repeated protestations of Hearses "Buy American" campaign; and Recounting the visit of the AFT national health that the patient was in serious use of The Nation, New Republic and Executive Secretary, Florence Hanson, trouble. During this period there were Living Age magazines as references in to the state federation meeting, the report no regular statewide publications; no his class, But by far the blackest mark tells us that records come down to us of CSFT against him was his support of a local presidents between 1933 and 1939; and lumber workers strike. The widespread demand for In a caustic economy, the weight of the by 1940 the national organization was article [minted in the AFTs national depression, coupled by an warning the CSFF that it was in danger press, Jewett ridiculed the hypocritical insidious public press attack had of losing its charter for lack of enough type of "professionalism" espoused by discouraged all but the leaders of active locals. his enemies, and delineated the reasons the few locals that have weathered All was not quiet, however. The why true professionalism lies in teacher the storm; but with the coming of national struggle conducted by the AFT organization. Mrs. Hanson to San Francisco a for tenure included skirmishes in After he was fired by the Board of new spirit has been engendered; California.In each legislative session, hope has revived; a re-awakened Education, he filed suit, and the Superior interest sprang to life, and many anti-labor forces introduced bills to roll Court upheld his dismissal,His own cities called for the charmed voice, back the 1921 tenure law, already Organization, the CIA, disavowed him, th,! magic touch of our National weakened in 1927 (with California and Jewett reported that "calumny against Executive Secretary. Teachers Association approval) to me has been spread by officials of that exclude teachers in districts with les.s association,"The CSFT organized a Apparently this "new spirit" didn't last than 850 average daily attendance.In ckfense committee, raised money, and long, for in CSFT secretary Anne Dart's 1933 a provision was added to the law hired an attorney for him. AFL unions, American Teacherarticle on "Tenure in allowing teachers to be dismissed for along with AFT locals from around the California" in March-April 1936 we find "criminal syndicalism", which, two years country, provided funds to appeal the a similar celebration of 'renewal': before the passage of the Wagner Act, Superior Court decision. The Education essentially meant union Association andits We are very hopeful of ou; activities. The weakened affiliates were finally sta .. of the CSFT, and the situation in California.Som of pressuredint.) lending us have clamored rather loudly willingness of the CTA to assistance to Jewett's for the State Federation of wage battles against cause. Ultimately, Teachers to get into action again. union-sponsored however, Jewett lost his Our state convention was a amendments to appeal. success, and we now have in strengthen tenure (1936), The CSET was generally California eight locals. We have resulted in short careers less than the sum of its banded together in the tenure for many teachers. partsin these years. fight the bravest and most One cause that did California had its regional knowing school men and women manage to ignite counterpartstothe in California, all of whom enjoy statewide support and the "storm and stress" of fighting academic luminaries things to the finish. We know galvanize a CSVT struggle associated with the AFT that acad,:mic freedom, was the case of Eureka backeast,notably organization, and tenure are all teacher Victor Jewett. A Professors Ernest Hilgard parts of the same struggle toward member of the CTA (and of Stanford and J. Robert a better life for all workers. later, AFT Local 349), he Dr. Ernestjack' Ifilgard Oppenheimer of IX had received excellent Berkeley. Hilgard, chair The deaths and births of the CSFT evaluations throughout his five-year of the Psychology Department at Stanford followed upon one another in career as a social studies teacher. Then and author of an important work on increasingly rapid succession; by the hecommittedthecrimeof hypnosis, served as president of his local ptember/October American Teacher "unprofe.ssional conduct. The evidence in the late30s. The physicist the journal was able to report once more of Jewett's unfitness to teach were: his Oppenheimer, later to head the top that "The California State Federation of expression, both within and outside of secret Manhattan Project that developed

1 4 1 6 the nuclear bomb during World War II, teachers with their several clubs and union was functionally, in the words of was at least an activist and possiblylocal associations. It went on record opposing several participants of the time, little president as well.Despite such the dismissal of some teachers, and more than a debating society. distinguished assistance, no individual succeeded with labor assistance in took responsibility for steering the CSFT reversing one dismissal. As a result of through its rough times. the celebrated Chaney case, in which A few locals sustained the thin two teachers fired for activism inthe statewide presence of the union. Local peace movement and the teachers'union 31 published a regular newsletter, The were rehired, the localalso got the Teachers' Voice, and its pamphlet School Board to rescind an old Palmer- "Organized Labor, Staunch Friend of the era prohibition againstteachers joining Schools" wa,,,eprinted by the American unions. Nonetheless, Local 430 did not Teacher. It generally functioned as the grow like a prairie fire. Teachersin Los lobbying arm of the state federation Angeles chose AFT membership almost throughout the 20s and 30s. The San exclusivelyoutofideological Francisco Federation of Teachers Local commitment. While its membership 61 maintained a lobbyist in Sacramento rose to over 100 within afew years, to augment the efforts of Local 31in the making it the largest at the time in the early 30s, until declining membership CSFT, that wasn't saying much, especially forced them to discontinue the practice. in a school district with over 11,000 Local 61 also broadcast a weekly radio teachers. program, and led the efforts todefend But the formation of the L.A. local tenure in San Francisco.The union did have its impact on the GSM'. played a vigorous role in protecting the Recognizing that the weaknesses of the raises teachers won in 1930 against state organization hurt the locals,Local continuous efforts to cut salaries 430 helped push the CSFT to meet throughout the Depression. regularly in the latter half of the 30s. Within its limited means, the CSFT Local 430 merr hers became state officers worked to organize new locals. During and infused new blood into an all but the 30s fourteen locals were chartered, defunct outfit.This is probably the of which six survived into the next ,ning of at least the last of the reiterated decade. One of the most significant statements of "new life" for the CSFT occurrences for the CSFT wasthe cited earlier. In return, in the late 30s the founding in 1935 of a viable local in Los CSFT helped raise funds to support Angeles. The CSFT was determined to defense cases for L.A. teachers. open Los Angeles, with thelargest school But the overall picture was not bright. system in the state, to teacher unionism. Of the 42,000 teachers employed in An earlier union, Local 77, had never California in 1939, 37,000 belonged to managed to gain more than a few dozen the CIA.In many districts CTA adherents.Despite several trips south membership was aprerequisite for by CSITs second president, E. J. Dupuy, teaching, and it was expected that your in the early 20s, enthusiasm for labor first month's salary be paid to the CIA as affiliation did not overtake the L.A. price for the privilege of becoming a teachers. Local 77 succumbed to menther of the "profession." None of continuous attacks by the School Board, these extenuating circumstances, aided by redbaiting editorials in the however, was of much consolation to notoriously anti-union LosAngeles Times. the members of the CSFT, which in the Local 430 was chartered under Depression decade had advanced only different circumstances: with the support marginally from 300 members in 1930 to of a rising labor movement and amid somewhat less than 500 in 1939. Under increasing dissatisfaction among L.A. these conditions the statewide teachers' The early years of the War decade maintaining less than the required five found the CSFT struggling muchas it locals in good standing. had in the past, although with the benefit After the start of the war, San of hindsight we can see the first signs of Francisco Federation president Ed change in the air. While for three years Gallagher explained to the national office 194144 there was no official AM' that transportation was difficult in such state federationinCalifornia, local a large state, and the war had drained off activities did not come to a halt. The members to service.Apparently, labor movement was seemingly stronger factionalism and personality conflicts than it had ever been. As a result of its between local leaders hadn't helped militant pre-war organizing, more matters any, either.In a letter to the workers belonged to unions than at any CSIri.'s locals, which had by now grown point previously. Agreements between again to nine, Gallagher pleaded for major corporations and labor renewed coordination. He asked Local facilitated by the government had 31's Ruth Dodds, a natk mai AFT vice achieved union shop agreements and president, to asski his efforts in pulling automatic dues check-offs in return for a the CSFT back together. Although "no-strike" pledge for the Gallagher and Dodds personally didn't duration of the war. Thus the get along, by July of 1944 Dodds had atmosphere for union submitted the necessary local letters to organizing had become quite the national AFT, and the CSFT, witha 1940s different from the AVI"s earliest new charter, had another lease on life. days. With such a small statewide The national AFT was at last membership, it makes sense that much The War and Its gathering a real head of steam. In 1943 of the organization's energies went into Aftermath the national union reported that it had coalition work with the rest of the labor just experienced its greatest growth spurt movement. Yet there was a surprising in over twenty years.It was using its amount of local activism as well. In 1940 new-found strength to play a greater Local 430 successfully fought against role within the AFL nationally and to pay cuts, and in the same year achieved fund heightened organizing campaigns. a restoration of the jobs of the Chaneys, Officiallyit came out against the two union teachers who had been fired witchhunts of the Dies Committee, for their political activities.Pak) Alto althyugh internally there was a growing Local 442 was a strong participant in the movement against Communist influence, Co-op movement. extremely popular in which resulted in the expulskin of the California; Palo Alto member Joel New York and Philadelphia locals in Berreman, of Stanhird University, became 1941. Despite these traumas, the union the CS1Ts fi-s: president of the decade. continued to grow during the war. The Sacraramto local waged a winning Meanwhile, the California Federation struggle for sabbatical leave pay.Just actually lost members. By 1941 the cwt. before Pearl Harbor, the cstrr presidency spoke for a mere 250 members. Nat k inal moved south, with Frank C. Davis of Secretary-Treasurer Irvin Kuenzli UCLA, Local 430, picking up the torch. complained in a letter to CSIT Secretaly IA wal activism, however, couldn't May Kirkham in January that the money overcome the essentially poor state of spent organizing in California over the afbirs in the CSFT, attested to by a past few years far exceeded the per- laconic summary inAmerican Teacher capita dues payments to the national; "A report on a program of action and membership had decreased by nearly policy to justify the federation's existence 100 teachers. By the end of the year AFT and provide for an extension of its revoked the charter of the CSET for influence was the basis of much of the

1 6 S schism, casting a shadow on teachers convention's discussion." The delegates from utilizing its militant organizing tactics Compounding matters, also promised one another that four of the previous decade.Taft-Hartley everywhere. teacher strikes led to legislative reprisals, issues of a state newsletter, to be named also mandated loyalty affidavits for union officers which affirmed non-membership calling for loyalty oaths, jail terms for Califbrnia Thacber, would appear each of (The promise was not to be in the Communist Party.Rather than strikers,andinvestigations year. "subversives." AFT faced an uncertain fulfilled until 1948.) face investigation by HUAC and other future. There were some significant energies crusading governmental bodies, the expended, if not well-coordinated, leadership of the AFL and the CIO offered This is the background for the story of Los Angeles Local 430 in the second around curricular issues.In California, to "clean house" themselves. Many half of the World War II decade, a story as across the rest ofthe country, school unions were expelled from the CIOfor alleged communist domination, and AFL which contains many of the elementsof boards in many distficts caved in to largest local had conservative pressures to ban a series of unions suffered upheaval andinternal a tragedy. The CSFT's achieved some notable successes, social studies textbooks, Progressive witchhunts. winning a few important teacherdefense Education, by Harold Rugg, which had In 1948 the CIO purged its public battles, gaining substantial amounts of been in common usage.Under the employee union, which had given shelter new members and earningthe accolades banner of academic freedom, Locals 61 to the expelled AFTlocals from the East of the national AFT in 1946 for itsgood and 430 drummed up considerable labor Coast. HUAC hearings connectedwith the CIO action dragged out the oldAFT work. By 1948 the Los Angeles Local support in the losing effort.The CSFT had absorbed a couple of lodged protests with local smaller teacher associations and state politicians, to no and its membership topped avail. 800. Its president, Harold After 1941, AFT locals in LOS ANGELES.FEDERATION OF TEACHERS Orr, had been elected the Bay Area and in Los president of the CSFT in 1946 Angeles worked to support Loon 430 American Federation of Tesobers and reelected twice,tinder the war effort and various Station H, Box 816, Los Angeles,Calif. his leadership the statewide social issues.Members of organization was growing, March 1945 the San Francisco local with several locals in northern donated a day's salary to the California pushing over 100 city's War Chest. Local 430 Dear Brothers and Sisters: The Teaohers' Union wishes to express its deepappreoi- members and new activists activist Abraham !linkus was ation for the oomplete support, without adissenting vote, given it by the delegates to the UAFL in the selectionof and leaders emerging among appointed chair of a district- Board of Eduoation candidates. them. (One of these, Ed Ross, wide committee convened Wa urge your vigorous support for UAFL-recommended candidates Catherine E. Breslin, George E. Ellioott and president of Alameda County by the Board to study Faye E. Allen, local 771, had barely lost the interracial relations in the The DAFL took "no action" on a fourth eandidate,inas- much as we were not then prepared to make a fourth proposal. election against Orr for school district, which led to At tbis time, however, we wish to urge every labor groupto complete its ticket with John M. Baldwin, a man oho had an president of the CSFT at its Board-approved in-service sizeellent record as personnel direotor of the'sohools tram 1932.1.935, who is a friond of organized labor, and who is 1947 convention.)At Orr's and education programs. ut present a goologioal onginoor. urging, the number of locals The late 40s saw a war For A Batter goard of Vacation, voto for Allen, Baldwin, Hroslin und Ellicott. paying per capita dues to labor within labor that cut across councils and the California the lines of the AFL/C10 Fraternally Labor Federation increased split, in which the right and 911- Harold L. Oir, Prosident from four to eleven; and a left wings of the movement 4racr. Fed. of Toachors, #430, AFL statewide organizing fund was fought to the death. As a established for the first time in result of the Cold War, labor P.S.Please chock ectlOn token by your group on years. became atarget for a tho enclosed curd und return. As occurred after the resurgent national first World War, the influx of conservativism.The Ta ft- returning veterans in 1945-6 Hanley Act passed in 1947 helped drive membership veto, overTruman's 1111111111110 numbers upward; so Orr's effectively crippling the labor Letter Jim Harold Orr tolosAngeles AFL's political action leadership was not the only movement by preventing it otganization in happier days. factor in (Nl' growth. Norwas Orr's union leaders fro nu around the world convention and appeal the deciskm, as style of leadership with( flit pn)blems for during balmier times for U.S.-Soviet provided for in the All constitution. organizing Ins Angeles teachers.In a relations, the1946 United Nations They sent a representative, whose districtof11,000 teachers, the meetings in San Francisco.This was arguments failedto) persuade the overwhelming majority werenot now held against it; and the San Fnincisco delegates; the resolution upholding the impelled to Hock into the arms of the Labor Council, formerly friel7dly to the Executive Council's decisionwas AFT in any case.Orr and his group school, was warning its locals that the supported by a roll call vote of 792-108, practiced a highly politicized brand of school was Comumunist-controlled. and Local 430 was no) more. unionism, characterized by an increasing Following the investigation of the Over 100 members and friends of sLirpness of tone as the immediate kwals, the national All' ordered San the new local 1021 came to) the chartering p.)stwar years grew less lu)spitable to Francisco) to sever its relationship with ceremony in October 1948, which the liberal-left coalition that had held the California Labor Schoolor face received a fair am( flint of positivepress. tagether within many unions fi )r a decade. expulsion.After initial resistance, the In attendance along with thenew There were teachers who, open to a kwal gave in to pressure froin the national president, Joseph Vo )orhees.were local bread-and-butter unionism, failed to All', the San Francisco Labor Council, union and political leaders, including appreciate the nuances of the connection localpoliticians and George Meany Roy Brewer, national Vice-President of between their daily das.sroom lives and himself, putting its members on notice IATSE, who had made his career by "the deleterious effects of the Truman they were no longer to support or teach redbaiting and helping to) break left- Doctrine on the class struggle in Europe" at the School.The local remained in leaning unions in Hollywood.Over a typical discussk Hi topic at k)cal 430 good standing. time Vix)rhees, anxious to disassociate meetings.In addition. some members Local -130 didn't fare so well. The the LATU from its predecessor's "red" complained of ( )rr's "heavy gavel" at the national Executive Council found that public image, appeared before legislative local's meetings, making it difficult fOr the local was guilty of six charges. committees to divulge what he knew Opp( )sing points of view to carry the Interestingly enough, the voting about Orr and Local 430. Thiswas part field. irregularity accusatkm was notone of of a long-term Mint by IA wal 1021to) In 19,17 ins Angeles teacher Walter these. Four of the charges were quite renu we the taint of Comfmunism from Thomas helped fi wind an opposition vague. e.g., "The AFT in I.os Angeles was teacher unionism in Los Angeles. caucus to Orr's group of left-leaning in general disrepute'', am' "Publications Within five years many of the former officers and activists. That year Thomas of Local 430 were undignified and leaders of Local 430 were no longer ran and lost against Orr for the Local 430 of the two findingswith teaching, having been fired by the School presidency. The following yea r Thomas' substance, one determined that the local Board fin taking the Fifth Amendment at caucus raised the money to send him to had co )(Termed with a CIO union, directly HUAC hearings, to which they had been the AFT national convention, where he ignoring AFL directives. The other summoned after being named by another made a presentation to the Executive determination was the key; that the Los teacher as Communists.The LAFT Council claiming voting irregularities in Angeles teachers union refused to take attempted to join the 00, but was the election. lie also asserted that Orr's action in support of Sectkm 9, Article 3, thwarted by United Auto Workers group was following the Communist of the AFT constitution (barring president Walter Reuther, who said that Party line in its decisionmaking. and membership toFascists, Nazis and teachers belonged in the AFL The acting ina generally undemocratic Communists). Since no one wa !.. accusing former local persisted in a non-affiliated fashion. the local of harboring Fascistsor Nazis, existence, coining to) Board meetings The national AFT Executive Council the inference was unmistakeable. and publishing a newsletter until the decided an investigation was in order, The charter of the Los Angeles mid-50s. not only of local 430 [nit also of San Federation of Teachers, All' Local 430, Strains between the new local and Francisco 1.0 wal 61 at the same time. In was revoked outright, and the local the statc organizatiom were evident from San Francisco) the local had had long- expelled from the AFT The Thomas the outset. The CSET found itself at standing connections with the California group became the charter members ot' end of the 40s with a membership less Labor School, an independent labor the new Los Angeles Teachers I rnion, than lialf of what it was previous to) Local studies center w ith classes on economics, AFT Local 1021. Orr and his associates 430's expulsion. For not only did they politics, parliamentary pro wedure, labor were refUsed access to) the pagesof lose several hundred teachers in Los hist( ny and co)llective bargaining. It had American Teacherto explain their side Angeles; the Cold War atmosphere hosted an official reception of visiting of the story, and told to come to) thenext like the Palmer period in the 20.s

1 8 without spectacular success to mend made teachers think twice about joining Labor Federation and from the AFT to fences with Local 1021. He also presented any union.In Los Angeles the new organize in both ends of the state. He California union struggled with problemsfrom got the AFT to send outnational staffer two important resolutions at the One both ends of the political spectrum: old Victoria Almon to assist. Ten thousand Labor Federation convention, 430 members loyal to the vanquished letters were sent to California teachers. established labor-funded scholarships for high school students, a program that, LAFT held aloof from Local 1021 because The :...ing-promised CSFT newsletter, much expanded, remains in place tothis the new union was on the wrong side in California Teacher,first saw its day. With the other resolution, all AFL the Cold War; while most teachers stayed mimeographed light of day in August unions in California away in droves because condemnedspecial 1021 was still an AFT loyaltyoaths as a local, and too radical condition of employment by definition. for teachers. In his role Member,ihip numbers as a working teacherwho dipped in many CSFT somehow created room locals in 1948-49, but in the rest of his life to Los Angeles suffered represent the interests of the most. all California teachers, he With Orr gone, Ed prefigured the vision and Ross became president activismofCSFT's of the CSFT oirr. famous president of the leaders, including Ross, next decade, Ben Rust. found themselves in a difficultposition. Whatever differences they may have had with Local 430 leaders' politics, many of them personally liked and respected the Los Angeles teachers for having pulled the organization back together. A north-south split emerged along the linesofprimary allegiance to the CSFT (north) and to the national AFT (south). from Local 1021's wholesomeTheUnion Teacher, v.1 ,Th.1, September 1949 Another division opened up between thelarge locals 1948, edited by CSET secretary Emma ( primarily Los Angeles and SanFrancisco) Brubaker.It has managed to maintain and small locals, relating to per capita regular publication ever since. obligations to the CSET. Local 1021 kept Ross himself, a full-time classroom lines of communication open tothr teacher, ft )(Ind the time and means to go national organization; but mutual distrust from city to city to encourage teachers to conspired with geography to keep the organize, the union paying only forhis that). CSFT divided. expense.s (and sometimes not even Ross did what he could to remedy He was re-elected at the November1949 the situation. Developing thefro ist convention, and during his hill term extensive organizing plan yet by the helped eight more locals to come into CSFI', he raised $2500 from the California being. He worked thanklessly and

1 9 A,HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA jiEDERATIONOF TEACHERS If the early 50s proved anything, it's are combed for signs of disloyalty; their that the creation, preservation and utterances are watched for clues to extension of civil liberties of every dangerous thoughts. A pall is cast over generation have to be defended and the classroom..." won all over again by the next one. Heir On the other side of the country, a to the Palmer Raids and Dies Committee dozen Los Angele whers were fired witchhunts, McCarthyism scarred far under the Dilworth Act for taking the more than teachers and their unions Fifth Amendment in front of the Velde before it was through. For teachers in Committee, which the editor of California, it defined the very atmosphere California Teacher called "a pocket of the times, attempting and often edition of McCarthy in Los Angeles". succeeding in making any action out of Dismissed from his longtime teaching the ordinary seem opposed to 'freedom', post at San Diego State, former AFT Vice 'democracy' and 'the American Way of President from Calif( irnia Harry Steinmetz noted that for every teacher summoned The issuewasnotmerely before such bodies a thousandare philosophical. Many federal and state silenced. In the northern portion of the laws were passed making new state, in an all-too rare management or continued employment show of understanding for teachers' ilk contingent upon the signing of predicament,it was the view of San loyalty oaths; others made Francisco Superintendent of Public current or past membership in Schools Herbert Clish that teachers "...are the Communist Party sufficient afraid to discuss controversial issues in ca us e fo r dismissal. the classrooms.They are afraid of The Teachers Union That Congressional committees were set up community pressures." A generation of Came in From the to implement the new laws. The most children were denied teachers able to Cold War famous, of course, was the House Un- openly discuss and stand up for their American Activities Committee (HUAC), ideas. and the person most directly identified The CSETs defense of academic with the anti-Communist crusade, Joe freedom and opposition to loyalty olths McCarthy. The witchhunts associated stood out in those years from other with these people and institutions bred education organizaticms with their meek, their local counterparts, and they didn't vt-'llong attitudes. Two issues put the stop with persecuting Communists. CSFT on the Caiifornia education map in In New York more than 250 teachers these years:defense of basic were forced out of teaching from 1948 to constitutional rights for everyone, 1953. 30 of these resulteel from invoking including teachers; and the struggle the Fifth Amendment beforeone of between teachers and adminstrators to several congressional committees; 31 define authority over the classroom. after testifying; scores more had to quit Again and again the small union rose to under pressures direct and indirect. defend teachers in conservative courts: According to California Teacher the Elizabeth Baldwin tenure case (fired (November-December 1954) thefirst for being over 40); the case of Stan teacher called to testify committed suicide Jacobs' dismissal for cause, and others on Christmas Eve, 1948 Supreme Court too numerous to list. Two cases out of Justice William 0. Douglas, in a dissenting the many fought by the union in those opinion when the Court upheld New djfficult years will suffice to demonstrate York's Feinberg law, stated that "What these concepts, happens under this law is typical of what Ed McGrath taught at Sacramento happens in a police state. Teachers are High School.After he questioned his under constant surveillance; their pasts principal's authority to assign him to 20 s

) 2 Widely publicized in cahfornia at Laney College inOakland (and of Teacherand AFT local member of Peralta Federation \ publications around the state, Teachers, Local 1603) he taught the 8468 McGrath's situation confirmed the course chiefly for thesymbolism of it. suspicions of' many teachers that The CSFT published a pamphlet in Dish et Court of Appral their "pn)fessionalism" stood in 1950 that declared, "The LeveringOath State oi Caldorni.1 inverse proportion to the number isin contradiction to theFederal Constitution since it imposes onpublic 8 11012n \ I III1 !A II I IZI'I of "professional" duties heaped on their shouldersoutside the workers a political test for employment, 4 deprives them of equal protectionunder 6 classroom.His case reinforced their growing sense Jlat this the law as guaranteed inthe 14th 8 situation need not he eternal. Amendment, and exposes themthrough In 1950 the Levering Act became its ambiguity to self-incriminationand iaw in California, mandating a perjury." In contrast, the CTA supported loyalty oath for employees of the the Dilworth law used to firethe Los 130 IIII%TO,1 RIO Responding to a \ tli:: 14 AM II VSLI. state of California.The only Angeles teachers, W. G1 AI ' I 1,' '1:I 'a, V; question from a member at aCTA s! t, .h.. California state senator voting Miller legislative meeting in Februaryof 1953, I ' C against the bill was George of Contra Costa County, a E.:lend CTA leader Harry Fosdickweakly of the president of the Contra remarked, "The CTA has gonealong Costa County Federationof with a lot of bills in the past,...Ithink we Teachers, Local 866, Ben Rust. will have to take a stand pretty soon on Shortly after passage of the these 'loyalty' bills." (The NEAinvited Levering Act, Frank Rowe was speakers from the American Legion, one hired to teach art at San Francisco of the most outspoken advocatesof l)yalty oaths, every year to its convention work as a "policeman" at school sports State College. On principle, herefused Monroe, from the Legion's foundingthrough events in the eveningsand on weekends. to sign the Levering Oath, Eason he was removed as chair ofthe social a colleague of Rowe'sand a tenured 1959.) professor, told reporters, "The oath Nowhere were the divergences in studies department and transferred to philosophy and willingness to act ofthe teaching English. He was alsogiven a attacks the thing it purports todefend." two organizations moreclear than in the heavier teaching load than anyother Monroe, like Rowe, was a CSFTmember. Both were dismissed for refusal to sign. CSFT 1953 legislative program, itsfirst teacher in the district. McGrath filed suit of a His Monroe became the executivedirector attemptatsponsorship against the District Superintendent, comprehensive package of bills. In by Sacramento Local of the ACLU in California, spending afair case was supported addition to Dilworth, there wereseveral various labor amount of time in his newjob fighting 31. the CSI.T, the AM', and more issues on whichthe teachers union until the law that had gotten him fired.The bodies. The CIA took no position and the CTA found themselves on the (lay McGrth and his union attorney CSET voted to exteNd a free year'sdues of opposite sides. The union created were in court pleadinghis case. A (.:TA extension to Monroe in recognition his services to teachers' cause. several bills carried by George Miller attorney showed up. satdown with the legislators and It wasn't until 1967 that the Levering and a few other sympathetic Superintendent and his lawyers, duty-free lunch periods, requested permission to appear as an Act was declared unconstitutionalby the on pay raises, overtime duties unrelated toteaching, the court. Ca lift wnia Supreme Court, Rowe's case, amicus curiae, or friend of colleuive bargaining for teachers. later along with others' from San Francisco and The state president of the CTA The CTA had a hand in killingeach of lawyer's State, meanwhile dragged onfor years, attempted to pc mray the CIA these proposals. The CSET tooksolace appearance as "neutral". handled by the ACLU and later on17.y attorneys of UnitedProfessors of that they had learned some important McGrath lost the case in superior practical lessons about how legislation In Fall 1954 the California, the state-wide affiliate of the Court and appealed. is crethed, and congratulatedthemselves case was heard inAppeals (;ourt. CSF1' in the colleges.He was finally Fall, 1977, at on the solid publicrelations they enjoyed McGrath lost again. But thesignifkance given a class assignment in San Francisco State. Since he hadin the with teachers from press coverage. of the McGrath caseextended The union had also broadened its considerably beyond the decision. meantime become a full-time instructor

2 1 A HISTORY OF THE IFORNIA .FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

23 field of battle. The lunch duty and line when it came to the qualities needed direction the CSET hired its first full-time overtime duties hills were an effort to in a teacher. In a diary entry he sternly staffer, I len ry Clarke, and put an attorney extend the struggle begun with the (and ungrammatically) wrote. 'Mose on retainer for legislative and legal duties. McGrath case Met' t:011t1"01 ul teachers' who) do) not love learning, themselves. Cahlonnakacbernmved from mimeo job descriptions and time away from the must not teach.- to print, regularized its publication and ckissn ion). The LII1l011 introduced these Rust's alternative to the CIA's empty was distributed in increasing numbers. hills at a time when Mct'iratlis case had -protessionalism- was the notion that Rustraisedthefundsforthis yet to he resolved. testinv, the waters teaching was a craft.On the wav to transformation froin other unions. over the Sallie issue in a dii(,:rent setting. becoming a Nlaster eacher the teacher Rust convinced the legislature and The hillcalling for collective should pass dm nigh an apprenticeship many teachers to accept the Qin* as the hargaining for teachers. the firstever that forges tluequaliues of independence. voice of classu tom teachers over the attempted. scored important points w.ith scholarship and pedagogical CFA. But perhaps his most impolliant many teachers sympathetic to unions sophistication.Rust's vision proposed accomplishment was to) hold together yet not ready to Like the risky step of an organic link between the activities of the northern and so nit hern halves of the breaking with the CIA to joina teachers' teaching and the crart union tradition. organization when Local 1021. smarting union. CSFT's action made the statement and anticipated reform prop( )sals of three after failing to) elect their slate at the to these teachers that. nigether with decades later. (:SET convention in 19S2. withhekt per- legal defense suits and legislation). here Relations with the rest of the labor capita dues payments to) the (Ng* for was yet another way that problems might movenlent were a constant so nirCe of over two years. After repeated entreaties be resolved. concern for Rust. While outwardly lw Rust and others to) Local 1021 president CTAs oppositionto)collective expressing nothing hut enthusiasm for Walter Tlunuas. the Los Angeles local hargaining for teachers was based on the CM:Ts labor affiliation. he confessed was declaredin -had standing". the idea that pn)lessionals don't need frustration periodically in his personal Disgruntled northern (*.SET leaurs. unions. And this was the crux of the diaries with the thictuating level of sympatheti(' to)the outcast kical 30 difference. The csn held that teachers support offered teachers by unions. anyway wanted to reaffiliate them and aren't pn4i,ssiomil .pist because other Despite occasional setbacks. Rust's cut 1021 lo)ose completely. people call them .pro/essfimal-:they tireless work shuttling back and forth The worst polarization occurred in need the real power over their work vtween his membership and other labor kite1954. Fred Clavson, editor of lives that professionals possess. gnaws was a key factor in no wishing California Teacher.pub1is'1,...d an Dominated bv administrators. the CIA the growth of the teachers union unprecedented 24-page, two-color had an obvkais stake in opposing this Rust was aliberalidealist. lie editio )n.replete with long articles notion, because tlicir opposit ion all( 'wed pre .ided over and encomraged the supporting the expelled leftwing their most powerful members contention of all shades of political teachers' unions in Philadelphia. New a(lministrators t()continueto) ()pinion within the inTh tn. lie was York and Lots Angeles. The Executive rationalize their control over a "teachers «illumined to) -The Spirit of the Bill of Council asked kir and received Clayson's association-. These p( iints of difference Rights"thetitleof on,..of his resignatioln.Within a year Lc )cal 1021 were hanunered home 1en Rust, puhlications). as well as to the letter.It had reaffiliated. President of the (NI' over the hulk oit was RWIt atthe 19S3 national All' As the (;sn. began to ) create a viable the decade, Inim 19'il 1.9i8. convention who). lighting a rearguard statewide presence through regular Rust's brand of unionism sprang action) against resolutions calling low the meetings and publications. proposals from his commitment to teaching and olCommunist tea( hers. intro )duced ir legislation and slow but steady growth his skilled trades hackground. A pnilitic a resolution that stated:"While we in membership. the differences between if homespun writer, Rust was :nation- of oppose the employment of Co numunists the teachers' union and the education minter-oats hoxiks. artides, studies and in our schools we decry the dismissal of association hecanie olwious to tea hers pamphlets On education. civil lit erties. competent empl()yees solely (m the who genuinely cared ahout educatum unionism, and oither topics..cII was ground that they availed themselves of and its place within the bro.aler society. absolutely dedicated to) the mission of their legal and constitutional rightsas Cs11' Executive Secretary lienry Clarke convincing teachers that the path t() real guaranteed in the hill of Rights.- The who was ScHnl becollle a national professionalism led thniugh the All'. resolution passeil by a wide margin. AFT staffer pointed (nit in 19-1S that lie possessed nearly endle,s nilerance Rust's idealism tempered a direct. "There has been real purpose hchind m()st human foibles, but drew the practical side ()I his character.I. his the Cl'A legislative !migrant thisyear.

22 0 A That purpose ',as been to establish the that diet:San Francisco Local 61, for decade. An art teacher, Eilerman, like CTA as the most powerful, best example, steadily gained adherents, with Rust, saw teaching in terms of the craft Not as politically disciplined 'company union': An over 600 membersby 1958; the local union tradition. increasing sharpness of tone toward exceeded membership targets each year sophisticated as Rust, he had to learn CTA is discernable in the California in the decade. parliamentary procedure when he became president in order to run the Teacheras the decade progressed, based Inc,easing legislative successes came meetings. Nevertheless, he oversaw the on the CSFT's surer footingand continued in the late fifties. In 1957 the year that greatest successes yet for the CSFT inthe conflicts with the association at the local racially segregated AFT locals in the legislative arena in 1959. Several oFT level and in Sacramento. Southern United States were expelled bills were written inu) law, including From fewer than a thousand teachers from the national organization the one mandating back pay toteachers in1950 the CSFT CSFT worked closely with reinstated after wrongful dismissal. membership had more Los Angeles teacher and than doubled by the AFT member Wilson Riles Symptomatic of the changing tenor of the times, the case of three teachers The uneasy to write and sponsor SB mid-50s. from Eilerman's Long Beach local, marriage of northern 2566. Introduced by state senator Richard Richards, beginning in late 1958, helped stimulate 'ideological' unionists legislation for and southern 'br( ad- thehillestablished the passage of CSFT types Commission on Discrim- probationary teacher protection within and-butter' The contracts of these seemed to he working, rgt ination in Teacher Hiring, a few years. and each side of the the first fair employment probationary teachers were not renewed; during the court trialsensational stateorganization practiceslegislation evidence, splashed across the front pages continued to do what adopted by the state.It they did best in the prohibited discrimination of Long Beach newspapers, came to light about FBI spying on one of the latter part of the decade. in employmentof teachers for his political activities. While In Los Angeles, thanks j certificated employees. efforts by AFT CSFT Executive Secretary Cold War overtones colored the case, to the outcome in1961 (protective national staffer Kent BenRust Don Henry was named to legislation) was different than it might Pillsbury, CSFT the Commission by the organizer Henry Clarke and especially state superintendent of schools. have been a decade earlier. Eilerman brought the CSFT out of Local 1021 member Evelyn Carstens, the In 1959 Ben Rust chose not to run for re-election.Despite the union's Ben Rust's pockets and installed it in an union picked up hundreds of members office with a phone, mimeograph when it secured exclusive pannership successes, Rust felt thestrain of machine and filing cabinets. It was also with Kaiser for health benefits for District attempting to build and hold together an teachers. pushing Local 1021 over the often fractious statewide organization during Eilerman's presidency that the first college locals of the CSFT were 1,000 mark by 1959. In an indication of while teaching full-time. The CSFT had chattered, including several community the growing rivalry between employee had to replace Hank Clarke when the the local's Eddie national AFT hiled him as its Western colleges and state colleges. groups at the time, One more small event, hut a Irwin. elected a national vice president Regional staffer.The new Executive milestone of sorts, must be noted. In late of the AFT in 1954, nearly came to blows Secretary, Don Henry, did not mix well 1958 the first California AFT local won with an Association representative at a with Rust, and after a few years Rust collective bargaining rights. Representing School Board meeting over the question decided that he would devote himself to of payroll deductions of union dues. teaching. During his tenure the teachers in film and TV studios in Los Angeles, the private sector victory of Irwin and Hank Zivetz. bothgifte(l organization nearly tripled in size and foreshadowedthe speakers, acted as if they represented all stabilized for the first time in its history. Local 1323 Rust's visionary legacy to the California accomplishment of the teachers' union L.A. teachers, and convinced many that nearly two decades later, when a they did. Federation of Teachers unionism in northernlocals defense of teaching as a craft is collective bargaining hill for public sc hoof Meanwhile, employees was finally signed into law. demonstrated for civilliberties and honored by the annual bestowal at crr But before that story can be told another pushed through resolutions condemning conventions of the Ben Rust Award. the latest outrages by 111 7AC at CSFI The new president, Lou Herman of must be recounted; the 60s. conventions, and seemed to thrive on Long Beach, led the CSFT into the next

A HISfORY OT THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATIOI9 OF TEACHERS 2 3 In May 1960 the United Federation auspkiously for the CSFT,A spirited of Teachers Of New York City threatened defense of students who had been vio- to strike if the school board did not agree lently attacked by police while peace- to hold a collective bargaining election fully protesting a HUAC hearing in San w New York teachers. After months of Francisco in May. 1900 led to the char- stalling by the hoard, the teachers went tering of a string of new locals in the out on a very successful one-day strike colleges, stalling with San Francisco in N( wember on Election Day.This State Local 1352. resulted in a June, 1961 vote, over- Teacher unionism did notemerge whehningly in favor of collective bar- suddenly in the 60s from a vacuum. The gaining. The fc ilk iwing December t he "profession'', nearly all female in the teachers of New York voted decisively founding days of the AVE, had become for the UFE against two rival organiza- somewhat gender-integrated by the end tions. of the 50s, although women remaineda After failing to negotiate a contract large majority, especially in elementary with the recalcitrant hoard, the grades. While in other periods women called the teachers out again in April. often led teacher struggles, in the late despite anti-union media hys- 50s increasing numbers of men appeared teria and New York laws bar- to have brought with them a heightened ring public employee strikes. militancy, along with their expectations The teachers achieved a S'700 for a "family wage."The influx of across-the-hoard raise, griev- veterans in the mid-50s from the Korean ance and arbitration procedures. War seemed to stiffen the backbone of and improved working condi- teachers in many districts, following the "Teacher Power" tions. A new era had arrived. pattern of postwar gains in membership 11 le events in New York were likea and militance.At the same time, what spark touching off a fire in a very dry had traditionally been a. largely middle forest. The national All' grew from less class occupatiim began to attractmore than 60,000 members in 1960 to over job-seekers from blue collar families, 200,000 by the end of the decade. More with a greater awareness of and affinity than 300 teacher strikes occurred to unions. (The effects of this sociologi- throughout the country during the ten cal shift. however, were mixed. Some years following It 'FT's one-day walkout. teachers from working class back- The NEA was k weed to nu we in the gs Rinds, eager to clamber up into middle direction of becoming a real union or be class respectability. would have nothing put Out of busitwss by its rapidly ex- to do with unions,) panding rival, reluctaltly supporting By the mid 60s political activism in strikes for teacher demands "asa last the country was rising to a post-war rem irt- and beginning to eliminate high. The great civil rights, student and ad minst rators frc im some affiliates' units. anti-war movements swept away the In California, changes no less dra- fearful, conformist atmosphere of the matic were taking place. Inspired by the Cold War. In the labor movement, the example of their brothers and sisters AFL-CIO put money and organizet:: into acn ss t he countiy. new members flocked the public sector, with excellent results: into the Calif( irnia Federation of Teach- millions of members in services and ers (the "State" was officially dn)pped government work were added to unions fri nu the name at the 1963 convention). in those years, including teachers. The organization multiplied five-fold, But it took some doirg for all this to frotn a few thousand to nearly 15,000 by happen.I.00king back at his I( ical in 1970. 1960 from the vantage of the 80s. Raoul Politically the new decade hegan Teilhet noted that "It was more like

24 ining the French Ihiderground than a recruiting members among the pn des- encouraged its members to write letters union; we had more secret members soriate as well.Don Knapp of the condemning the proposed law to their than public members." After conserva- newly-chartered San Francisco State legislative representatives. Some of these tive state senator Hugh Burns redbaited College Local 1352 was named editor. were read out loud by angry legislators the CSFT's legislative advocate Andrew Unfortunately, the Review received little to their colleagues; advocates cited the Barrigan in early 1962, Barrigan's credi- support within or outside the CSFT: it near-illiteracy of the teachers' letters as bility was sufficiently damaged that he folded after one superb issue. Authors proof the need for passage of Fisher's fc!t it best to resign. The CSFT had to win in the short- bill. a number of legislative and legal victo- lived Review The same year another ries before the lingering effects of the included la- important victory was Cold War in education coukl be shaken bor writer/ won for teacher rights I. off. activist Sidney with passage of the The CFT's growth spurt was aided Lens, U.S. Sec- Probat lona Ty Teacher by passage in 1961 of the Brown Act, retary of La- Pnitection Act, AB 337, which granted public employee,in bor Arthur J. Nvhich pnwick.d for a Calif( gnia the right to join or not join the Goldberg, nlandatory hearing be- employee organization of their choice. education fore dismissal. CIA and Alth(mgh explicitly excluding collective author Myron virtually every other bargaining, it granted a broad scope to Lieberman educational organization I. 'meet and conferrights for teacher and sociolo- I. opposed AB 337, but organizations. The Brown Act gave the gist Seymour legislators were con- union the legal ability to organize and Lipset. vinced by CSFT argu- recruit members, and the right to be Another Hugh MacCO, Griele. and Maureen ments that included tran- recognized as a legitimate employee CTA argo- Clarke hoor A/3. teginion.). scripts of courtroom organization. ment against the CSFT was the CIA's testimony from the case of' the three Maurice Englander was elected CSVF insurance programs for teachers. Eng- IA mg Beach teachers Ravnumd de Gnmt, president in 1962, the same year that lander established an insurance trust kir 1,ucille Couvillon-Grieve and Maureen conservative Max Rafferty became state the union to offer teachers, too, Cameron-Clarke.De Gnmt had been Superintendent of Instruction.During Engkmder chaired the CET Legisla- fired for alleged leftwing political activi- his presidency the organization grew tive Committee, which had been fiirmed ties ten Years bek ire; Onivillon-Grieve and won a number of important legal to assist attorney Joe Genser draft legis- and Cameron for defending de Groat. and legislative victories. lation and give testimony in Sacrament(); All were probationary teachers. Al- A San Franci--) Federation of Teach- under his direction the CSFT legislative though the case had been lost, the judge ers activist and chair of the English program achieved some notable suc- while rendering his verdict stated that if Department at Lowell High School, cesses.In 1%1 the Fisher Act, sup- he had been a member of the school Englander had served as csn' vice- ported by the csn only after significant board, he "woukl have granted tenure to president under Lou Eilerman, and amendments, abolished the educ ation these three fine teachers"; but current sum-Ruled the expansion of the union major.It stated that all teachers must law prevented him from changing the into the state university and community have a bachelor's degree and credential school board's decisk in.The judge's college systems.lie reasoned that the in an academic subject matter area. As words helped sway the necessary votes imprimatur of pnifessors as with amended it embodied a signihcant as- to pass AB 33-7 into law, mandating the Albert Einstein and John Dewey in ihe pect of the CSE'rs position on teaching right k ir every teacher to receive a letter past would lend prestige to the OFT as a profession:teachers would now stating the reasons for dismissal; a public and boost its image as a professional command expertise over specific sub- hearing hascd on those ream ins; and organization kw K-12 teachers, under- jectareas. Local 771 activist David appeal the decision of the hearing to a cutting CTA's argument that unions Creque and CSFT Secretary Farrel court on the basis of the pnwedures of weren't "professional". For similar rea- Broslawsky helped draft the language the hearing. 'fhe CSET was assisted by sons he helped to establish the Unimi eventually passed into law. strong lobbying from the Calif( irnia Libor 1?eview, an academic quarterly devoted IR inically, CIA's opposition to the Federation. Passage of the bill capped to labor issues;it was to provide a Fisher Act ended up working in favor of an 11-year struggle for the CSIT. publishing outlet for professors, thereby the bill'spassage. The Association In 1962 the Jack Owens case, called

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 25 by Englander "the Magna Carta for teach- cause of the disciplinary action.His pro bori() hours to their Favorite union ers", came to a successful conclusion. principal worried publicly about the causes: teachers and farmworkers. As with Victor Jewett and Ed McGrath unsettling effects that the beard might One more case deseives special before him, Owens a former northern have "on Negro students." The irony mention, that of Marie Whipp, a P.E. de- director for the CTA and president of his that Finot taught at John Muir High partment chair in Antelope Valley. Fired local Association lyid been fired in School, whose namesake sported a rather during the 1962-63 school year for de- 1959 for the heinous crime of "unprofes- prominent set of whiskers, apparently fending young women teachers from sional conduct", as determined by the was lost upon the school board. the sexual advances of older male in- CTA's ethics commission. The activities In Superior Court he was asked, structors and for calling her principal a that prompted his firing were hosting a "Isn't your beard an outgrowth of your "jackass" for protecting the men, her series of educational forums and writing radicalism?" Finot responded, "It is an public hearings, held at Aight, brought letters to the editor of the local newspa- outgrowth of my six week fishing trip." out standing-room crow ds of parents per critical of the school district.The The case went to an appeals court in and teachers. Whipp, holder of a P.E. crA found him guilty of violating their 1967, when Finot was vindicated as the for handicapped children credential, was code of ethics, the board fired him, and judge declared that "A beard for a man very popular with the children's parents. when Owens went to court their deci- is an expression of his personality", and The Superintendent lied on the witness sion was upheld. But tile state creden- "...symbols, under appropriate circum- stand, and his promising political career tials commission refused to revoke his stances, merit constitutional protection." came to an end. The principal broke credential, and in 1962 an appeals court It was for supporting teachers like down under questioning and was fired. decision reversed the lower court ruling, de Groat, Couvillon-Grieve, Cameron, However, so was Whipp, since the school finding essentially that the CTA's com- Owens and Finot that the CSFT and cm. board upheld the original firing.She mittee had no standing to determine a became known as the "ACLU for teach- found another job chairing a P.E. depart- teacher's "professionalism."Through- ers". Although the (TT lost a majority of ment, and went on to become a CFT out Owens' ordeal the Federation raised the cases, enough were won that a body vice-president and later secretary-treas- funds, held rallies and publicized his of law was slowly built up around teacher urer. cause. rights; most of the key teacher rights In December 1963 CFI Convention In another key case, in 1963 Pasad- rulings applicable today in California delegates elected Fred Horn of San Diego ena teacher Paul Finot was reassigned to were won by the union in the 60s and president.He led the CFT through a home teaching because he refused to eai ,/ 70s.The string of court losses period in which profound transforma- shave off the beard he'd grown over regarding probationary teachers served tions were s:aning to overtake the or- summer. A school hoard member let another purpose:it gave the cm. ganization.With full-time staffers in drop unwise remarks indicating Finot's ammunition in Sacramento to be able to north and south; with a menthership of union activism was probably the real demonstrate that the probationary pro- several thousand ;Ind expanding; and tection laws were worthIc:ss and needed with an increasing ability to influence to be rewritten. legislation in Sacramento, the union was Teacher defense also proved an experiencing growing pains. Member- excellent organizing tool.The CFI ship expansion called for a stronger attracted many new members for its central organization and statewide pres- willingness to fight for teacher rights, no ence. Centralization, however, ran matter what the cost. On the opposite against the grain of Me union's history, side of the coin, scores of courageous which was characterized by strong I()- rank and file teachers went through the cals and a relatively weak, underfunded ordeal of public hearings so that the state office. union's attorneys could create the case Some local leaders stood on prin- law necessary to protect the employ- ciple against strengthening the cm ment of future teachers.The union's Resistance to a staff-run union was based attorneys, particularly Howard Berman, in part on fears of becoming too much later a U.S. Congressman from Los like the CAA, which exercised heavy ., Angeles, and Stuart Weinberg, from ihe control over its chapters from a large, Paul Pinot (bearded) accepts award from Saul labor law firm of Levy, Van Bourg, centralized bureaucracy. The CFI', by Glickman, CPT Teacher Rights banquet, 1974 Geffner and De Roy, donated countless contrast, was a rank-and-file oriented

26 ):11 as CFE president, he felt, had to he As a result Local 1424 president R.u)ul New York and other large urban school organizational development. Teilhet was appointed to his first state- districts around the country, Local 1021 Horn, like his predecessors, trav- wide office, CET Secretary.I liscox, al- President Eddie Irwin persuaded the elled around the state, mostly in the though less of a political leader than his national AFT to help set up a member- south, to help locals ship campaign in i n organize. He had a et. . Los Angeles small budget; again, preparationfor moving toward col- in the CFT presiden- fa& a_ tial tradition, part of lective bargaining. his expenses came The All' and MI- out of his own CK) Industrial Un- pocket.Horn be- ion Department put lieved in the basic up the money to hire tenets of the broader former CET Execu- labor movement. tive Secretary Ralph His kkok)gical fer- Schk miing to lead vor stood firmly in the campaign. The the tradition of the lack of a collective state teachers un- bargaining law in ion, and kept tempo the state and divi- withtheother sions among Los movements for so- Angeles teachers cial justice: he was prevented this early "honored", for in- eflOrt from achiev- stance. to invite UC ing success. Berkeley student Later t hat same Free Speech Move- year San Francisco ment leader Mario high school teacher Savio to address the Marshall Axelrod (yr convention in became state presi- 1964 when Maurice dent at the CET con- Englander showed vention. The rising up with Savio in A tide of s()cial and tow. (Berkeley political militance graduate students across the country had organized into found a resonance AFT Local1570 in the (.11. with an during the 196465 increasing willing- school year.) But a ness of teachers to sense of solidarity .ictdecisively on 7he teachers' anion anda few friends drop in on Governor Reagan: theirown behalf and wasnolonger CV."-led March,fin. Educalion in sacramenio, 1% 7 enough; a more rally following in solidarity with the solid organizational fix Aing was also predecessors, demonstrated fine ( Hgan- struiggle of others. This attitude was re- necessary for effective statewide coordi- izational skills.I.ike Horn he concen- flected in 1965 convention activities. nation of the growing California Federa- trated on creating an appropriate infra- The convention voted to support the tk)n of Teachers. structure f()r the CET. Sh()rtly after his struggle of the Agricultural Workers Horn became ill in spring 1965, and brief term of office expired the union Organizing Committee, soon to become Harley Hiscox, senior vice president, hired him as its southern Executive Sec- the 1.'nited l'armworkers 1.7nion.The finished Horn's second term of office. retary.Later Hiscox was promoted to spectre of Viet Nam raised its head for The Executive Council appointed Secre- Director of Orga ,izing. the first time in discussion and resolu- tary Farrel Broslawsky vice president. In 1965, inspii ed by the examples of tions.

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 27 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 21 tural Workers Organizing Committee, '411mar. soon to become the United Farmwork- ers Union. The spectre of Viet Nam 414 raised its head for the first time in discussion and resolutions. .:." The following year teachers in Cali- *fr. fornia began to hit the streets. In Berkeley tit a picket line of 50 teachers accosted members of the School Board over their failure to act on a detested transfer ver -.416 policy. The first teacher strike in Ca:fornia erupted in Richmond, led by Ptesi- dent Bill Wagner of Local 866, Contra Costa County Federation of Teachers. At San Francisco State Local 1352 charter members Leonard Wolf, Mark Linenthal and James Schevill held a public reading of poetry seized by San Francisco police, in a demonstration of opposition to "a The San Francisco State strike brought out media, riot squad and divisions amongfacuby passive psychology that will allow gradual erosion of the rights of free expres- Berkeley the graduate student local went Amid all the turmoil, Axelrod faced sion essential to education."At UC on strike for recognition, and with the the same problem dogging other CM' assistance of the Alameda County Cen- presidents since the late 50s:how to tral Labor Council, wrung a grievance create and maintain a statewide struc- procedure from the University admini- ture to keep pace with the growth of the stration. The theme at the 1966 CM' con- tnenlbership. He oversaw the implem- vention, at which Axelrod was reelected, entation in California of the "Coordi- was "Teacher Power". nated Organizing Program'', created by In spring of 1967 the recently-elected AFT president Dave Selden and United Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, Auto Workers president Walter Reuther. slashed the budget of the public schools. It represented the best-funded organiz- Teachers were not inclined to take this ing effort of the CET thus far.With quietly. The on' pulled together a matching money from the national AFT, coalition of other unions, students and the al- and locals, Axelrod hired Abe community organizations, and led a Newman and Keith Nason to work with march of 10,000 education supporters in East Bay locals and the college groups. Sacramento. Governor Reagan had re- Each local received organizing assis- fused an invitation to address the dem- tance, and the staffers helped to engage onstration held on the Capitol steps; hut the locals in common activities. Axelrod he made a dramatic surprise appear- also began a practice that worked so ance, sui rounded hy hodyguards.As wellit was continued into the next the Governor appeared, CEI' vice-presi- decade: he had the CET issue expansion dent Miles Myers and a few other des- notes to memhers, on which it would perate CFT leaders held off an angry pay interest and purckise for redemp- crowd from storming the platform. While tion later on. The notes raised several the march failed to generate an influx of hundred thousand dollars fm organiz- school funding, it built teacher morale. ing. The members bought them enthu- The positive publicity for the CFI' was ,lastically, h )th for ideological principle enormous among teachers all across the and their excellent interest rates. The 1 'tined Farm Irorkers and the CF1 . state; and the Governor was put on Under the CET president's deter- partnem in the struggle for social justice notice that he faced vocal opposition. mined prodding, the convention in 1967

2 8 30 BEST COPY AVAILABLE on every issue possible. and San Jose State strikes, demanding Teilhet became the first full-time transformations in curriculum to reflect president of the CFT. This change in changing student populations. The tradition did not go down easily for strikes were led by militant AFT locals some longtime CFT activists, who be- and Third World student organizations. lieved that for elected union officials to Achieving national media coverage, the go on staff was the beginning of the long long strike at San Francisco State exacer- slide toward a CTA-like bureaucracy, bated divisions in the faculty that even- out of touch with the membership and tually came back io haunt AFT. their day-to-day classroom struggles. In Los Angeles a 1-day strike called Teilhet, too, remained committed to an by the Association was followed by the activist organization led by an activist AFT local keeping their members out for president. But he saw that the days were another day. The Association realized over when the demands on the office that a successful job action in the future could be handled by a full-time class- necessitated a united organization. The room teacher. Working with a seasoned 1Y-suit the next year was merger: UTLA and talented field staff, he set out to (United Teachers of Los Angeles), affili- AFT 1021 President Larry Sibelman during 1969 Las Angeles strike advance beyond the gains of nearly a ated with both CTA and Cyr. Many in decade of uninterrupted growth. The the CFT hoped that this foreshadowed a needed staff and expand its work in the results probably surprised even him. united teachers union for all of Califor- field and in Sacramento. From a rela- Within two years the CFT a mere nia. tively modest budget of $90,000 in 1967 few thousand in 1960 doubled in size the CFT found itself with more than again, to nearly 15,000. Feeling the heat $160,000 to spend the following year, of its fast-moving challenger, the CTA thanks to growth and to the per capita began to countenance the unthinkable: increase.Axelrod, however, was not throwing out its administrator members, fated to lead the wealthier cvr. For it supporting collective bargaining, and was at the December 1967 convention endorsing teacher strikes. that Pasadena High School teacher Raoul The close of the 60s found the AFT Teilhet was dected president, a position on the ascendant in California, as in the he would hold for 17 years. In Raoul Teil het the California Federation of Teachers found the leader needed to shep- herd its rise to its greatest accomplishment, collective bargaining for California teachers. Teilhet combined the dynamic force of a charismatic personality, the conviction of deeply held politicalbeliefs, and the boundless Same song, new signs: newly constituted 1172.4 out on strike, spring 1970 energy of a spirited organizer.His vision for the continued rest of the country, riding atop a wave of growth of teacher unionism was based teacher activism. In 1969 northern Cali- in the idea that the crr should stake out fornia was rocked by the San Francisco more progessive positions than the CTA

I ' ' 31 BEST COPYAVAILAILE The struggle for collective bargain- loose statewide radical caucus, which ing took place against a backdrop of produced an irregular newsletter (Net- enormous teacher militancy; indeed, work), criticized CET policies deemed passage of the law finally came about too mild and ran slates of candidates at after so many years precisely because of CFT conventions against Teilhet's Unity the pressure exerted on legislators by Slate. Its activists included Sheila Gold, continuous teacher activism. As if eager Joel Jordan, Al and Kathi Rossi, Ed to validate Teilhet's assessment of how Walker, and Bill and Brenda Winston, to win members away from the CTA, among others.Several, running on delegates passed a series of radical reso- militant (sometimes abrasive) platforms, lutions at the CFT convention in Decem- were elected to local and statewide ber 1969:against the Viet Nam war; posts. While many of its members calling for abolition of the draft; for continued to be active, the caucus itself setting up draft counseling centers in faded out of existence in a few years. junior high, high schools, and colleges Members of another radical grouping, (and supporting the rights of teachers to the national AFT United Action caucus, hold open discussions on these issues in were also active in California at the time. their classrooms); for affirma- Independent candidates such as Berkeley tive action hiring in public teacher Dick Broadhead in 1972 ran and education; for birth control, won CFT office (vice-president) against MIL abortion rights, maternity leave Teilhet's slate. and adequate day care facili- In these same years, while the CFT ties; and supporting a plethora continued to articulate the union's tradi- of student, minority, women's tional progressive agenda, the AFT na- and labor struggles, The CF1''s budget tional leadership grew more conserva- The Politics of passed a quarter million dollars, giving tive. The change in the national union Diversity the organization an unprecedented abil- reflected the rapid shift in the late 60s to ity to turn its ideas into action. collective bargaining in many large cit- Not content to leave its positions on ies.Locked in bitter conflict with the paper, the CFT continued to fight and NEA for national leadership of rapidly win court battles, to push for legislation unionizing teachers, AFT struggled with around teacher rights, and increasingly, the tough issues of school funding in to strike to hack up local demands with declining urban areas, and decreasing teacher power. The union led a second support for urban education. march of several thousand in Sacra- The NEA sought to regain its lost mento against cuts in education in 1971. national prestige by portraying the un- Annual CFT Civil Rights Conferences ion as racist and authoritarian. Bolster- were held beginning the same year. ing its own image, the NEA elected its Revealing substantial courage, first the first black president in 1968, and invited San Francisco, and then the Los Angeles a series of prominent black activists to Archdiocese teachers organized them- specially advertised national conferences, selves into AFT. Dozens of locals around Meanwhile, AFT leaders faced the jotif the state picketed, massed their mem- actually bargaining in urban schoois, bers at board meetings, and struck; the grappling with the issues of community pages of California Thacher in the early control and decentralization. (The NEA 70s are covered with photos and stories was still officially opposed to collective about walkouts:in 1973-74 alone 42 bargaining.) In 1968 the national union locals engaged in some form of militant endorsed decentralization but in action. Oceanhill-Brownsville, New York Local Early in the decade New Leftists 2 president Albert Shanker took a stand who had become teachers formed a against community control of schools.

3 0 32 Other AFT locals in Detroit, Newark and and many of the California locals Chicago did not agree with Shanker's debated the issues as vigor- position on community control, but they ously at the local level as they endorsed the New York teachers' right were debated nationally. Cali- FT4PAF. L"ClO to strike and fight involuntary teacher fornia teachers maintained their /EDUCATION FOR DEMOC transfers (the central issue of the progressive positions independ- Oceanhill-Brownsville conflict) ently from the national organi- NM was happy to exploit this divis,on zation, and at times have been in its rival. By the time Shanker won the able to influence the AFT by national AFT presidency in 1974 the uniting with other like-minded Association was publicly calling itself a teachers from around the coun- union. try. An example of such influ- A close look at NEA policy will ence was the galvanizing effect reveal that in the fight against racism and California women had on the for urhan public education the NEA AFT in the early 70s. 1972 Democratic presidential candklate Gemge McCown historically played a poor second fiddle The 1972 CFT convention, welcomed at crr convention (Ken Law photo) to the AFT.In fact, the NEA did not addressed by then-AFT president Dave Ihit the effects were national in scope. completely integrate its chapters until Selden and Democratic Party presiden- Marge Stern, a San Francisco teacher, voice 1974.The AFT willingly suffered the tial candidate George McGovern, cre- was the first and most consistent loss of thousands of members hack in ated a new entity, the CFT Women in for wornen's issues in the national AFT. 1957 when itexpelled its remaining Education Committee.Seats on the In 1970 she organized women (and segregated locals in the South. In later committee were hotly contested in this men) teachers around the country and years, however, the national union has heyday of the Women's Liberation pressed the national union to create the from time to time held positions dis- movement. The CFT Executive Council AFT Women's Rights Committee. Stern agreeable to the CFT, such as the AFTs appointed Wanda Faust of Poway as its is known as the "founding mother" of support of Allan Bakke's "reverse dis- first chairperson; under her leadership the teacher; union's concern with crimination" case. The CFT passed reso- the committee (including Marge Stern, women's issues in both California and lutions and demmstrated against the Julie Minard, Gretchen Mackler, and Pat the nation. Bakke suit. Stanyo, among others) held the first CFT With theWtnnen in Education Because the AFT is a federation of Women in Education Conference in the Committee asits conscience, the CFI' locals the entire debate over community fall, attended by over 150. moved its concerns over sexism into the control in the union was held openly; The Women's Movement had a major legislative arena. The Committee, seek- the disagreements among unionists were impact on the AFT, reflected in the ing to implement Title IX of the federal often hitter and public. This is the messy formation and activism in California of Civil Rights Act, called attention to sec- strength of union democracy. The CFT the Women in Education Committee. tions of the Education Code relating to

+WOW * 01NA At

Henrietta Blackman, second fmm right, chairs workshop onhiring at 3rd annual statewide conference held by CPT Women inEducation Committee, November 1974 (Ken Lane photo)

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 3 1

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 33 the portrayal of minorities in curriculum united teacher organization, and helped CFT opposed the Winton Act because it and instructional materials, and pushed the CFT immensely duiing organizing wasn't collective bargaining, its meet the CFT to sponsor bills that added drives. and confer results were not binding on women to these Code sections. SB 450, school boards, and because it called for for example, carried by George Moscone Collective Bargaining allocation of seats on the councils based in 1973, mandated that all classes had to In preparation for collective bar- on membership, not through secret ballot be offered equally to boys and girls. The gaining the CFT helped fund local or- elections.The CTA's intent was to CFT also drafted and secured passage in ganizing efforts.In many cases these dominate the councils through their 1975 of a crucial bill carried by Howard were tied to local attempts to subvert the overwhelming numerical superiority. Berman providing for maternity leave weak "CECs" (Certificated Employee The effects of Ole CECs varied from for teachers. Councils) established by law in 1965. district to district.In some places the The Community College Council of Some explanation of these "meet and councils met, delivered their recom- the CFT gave organizational shape to the defer" councils as they were deri- mendations to the school board, and growing numbers of CFT faculty from sively known to union activists is things remained the same.In other the community colleges.Los Angeles necessary. districts some CEC resolutions were taken Community College history teacher Hy In the aftermath of the New York seriously.For the CFT, CECs were Weintraub, president of the Council for AFT strikes, even CTA leaders recog- inadequate in any case because they much of the decade, worked closely nized that it would only be a matter of relied on the goodwill of administrators with former AFT vice-president Eddie time before public sector collective and school board members. Many CFT Irwin on the Council's publication, The bargaining came to California. By 1965, locals boycotted the CECs for the first Perspective, to help bring a coherent in order to stave off the inevitable, the several years, and in some districts the statewide identity to community college Association sponsored the Winton Act, CTA chapters didn't even bother to faculty. Formed in 1971, the CCC de- which established "professional nego- implement their own law. By the early voted considerable energy to support tiations" for teachers, (Gordon Winton, 70s, however, CFT local leaders, instead the Peralta court case, which was filed in defeated for reelection in 1966, was of simply scorning the councils as a poor 1974 to fight for tenure for part-time immediately hired by the California substitute for collective bargaining, began Community College instructors and es- School Administrators Association, which to use the CECs to achieve recognition tablish guidelines for their hiring and re- at the time was part of the CTA.) The by their school boards as legitimate tention. Convention resolutions in favor difference between the Winton Act and teacher re presentL tives. They had found of pro-rata pay and benefits for part- the earlier Brown Act was that Winton that elections to the CECs could be used timers were backed up by actions such created "CECs" made up of 5, 7, or 9 as an organizing tool; teachers were as the Peralta decision (finally achieved teachers from empioyee organizations. asked to join the AFT in order to increase in 1979), demonstrating that CFT was The only two representatives of the union's representation on the coun- the only organization that cared about education groups to speatc against the cils. These were the efforts aided by CFT these much-exploited teachers. bill at legislative hearings were the CFT's financial and organizing assistance. Community college faculty came to Marshall Axelrod and Bill Plosser. The Meanwhile 'he CFT and its locals play a greater role in the CFT during the continued t o decade as their weight within the or- struggle to change ganization increased.By 1979, under the Winton Act, Weintraub's leadership, the CFT was and to push for true growing faster than any other commu- collective bargain- nity college organization in California. ir!g.In San Fran- Weintraub hoped that the CCC's gains cisco union teach- might encourage the Faculty Associa- ers achieved a tion of California Community Colleges breakthrough.In (FACCC) to join the CFT. Unfortunately 1969 the school the CCC's longstanding offer of unity board allowed was not accepted.That position put secret ballot elec- forward by the Council, however, dem- tion to determine onstrated to community college faculty State Senator Moscone carried collectitv bargaining bills at the behest of teacher representa- that the teachers union stood for a Raoul Teilhet and the California Labor Federation's Jack Henning tion. San Francisco

3 2 34 Federation of Teachers Local 61 96.11,_rk rib ri, ri, r 6,. r ber. A moral victory, this was the won. SFFT president Jim Ballard first time that a teachers' bargaining analyzed the results of the vote bill had made itas far as the against the numerically superior Governor's desk.It took the elec- SFCTA. He concluded that the ballot tion of Jerry Brown as Governor, proved the Winton Act wrong to committed to collective bargaining assume that membership numbers ," for teachers, to tip the balance of translated directly into the will of forces. the teachers. 4k: The next year, seeing the writing 11. Each legislative session the CFT on the wall, the California Sell' )ol introduced a new collective bar- Boards Association proposed what gaining hill, working closely with 4=,0 OM. goo in their view were acceptable para- other public sector unions to create meters for collective bargaining. bargaining for all public employees. Teilhet penned a California Teacher Collective bargaining was getting Discussion over coffee:Tellbet, Governor Jerry Brown, an, editorial in April, 1974 responding closer: in 1971 the union achieved crr Legislative Director Mary Bergan to the CSBA, entitled "All of the As- the first full legislative hearing on the boards on sufficient cause for dismissal. sociations Now Support Some Collec- topic. Pressure was now ,!ginning to California teachers were furious. tive Bargaining for Teachers What Do build for collective bargaining within Raoul Teilhet appeared on a south- We Watch Out for Now?" the CTA, too.Dissatisfied Association ern California television program to members were leaving and joining the debate John Stull, and cut the hapless We unionteachers did not join Republican Assemblyman from San theAFT andwork for collective union. In 1966 the CFT had 70 locals; by bargaining just to get a higher sal- the end of the decade, more than 100. In Diego County to ribbons. A phone-in ary, a bigger insurance policy, a 1976, the year that the Rodda Act be- vote from the public tallied while the longer leave and shorter hours. came laproviding for teacher collec- program was on the air showed public We wanted some ofthose things, tive bargaining in California, the CF1' opinion in favor of the CFT president's but we also wanted to secure smaller classes, adequate sup- boasted nearly 150 active locals.The positions. (What actually happened was plies, better books a more crA officially joined the collective bar- this:the broadcast was taking place in humane and creative environ- gaining crusade midway through the conservative San Diego County, and the ment for learning. To leave cur- 1971 legislative session to support CFI' vote probably would have gone against riculum in the hands of the Board hills carried by Assemblyman Ken Meade the teachers except that a CFI flyer had would be to abandon one of warned locals in advance to get their AFT's most essential goals. This and Senator Mervyn Dymally. It reacted issue makes imminently [sic) clear just in time to prevent the CFI' from members to ring the phones off the hook that the Board has moved to the overtaking and sweeping itaside in at the program.) The CFT made a 16mm point of accepting teachers as what was becoming floodtide for teacher film of the program, and circulated copies employees who have something unionism. of the film to teachers' lounges all across important to say about how much they earn, but not to the pouit of The CTA also suffered from their the state, publicizing the union's oppo- accepting teachers as policy' support in 1971 of the Stull Act. Passed sition to the bill and the CTA's support of makers in schools. over the tierce opposition of the CFT, it. The union picked up 5,000 members the Stul Act demanded that teachers be in less than a year. Teilhet had scanned the future ac- held accountable through a behavioral The California Labor Federation and curately.In 1975 Senator Al Rodda, a goals and objectives approach to teach- the CFT asked Senator George Moscone former AFT local president, introduced ing. The law sought to turn the class- to carry a collective bargaining bill for SB 160. Trailing behind a comprehen- room into assembly lines, with measur- teachers in 1973.With the support of sive bargaining hill for all public em- able "productivity". A mountain of pa- United Teachers of Los Angeles and the ployees that didn't pass the legislature, perwork was combined with the threat CTA, he introduced SB 400, which called SB 160, for K-12 and community coll2ge of negative evaluations for student re- for repeal of the Winton Act and the teachers only, moved through both sults over which the teacher had no creltion of comprehensive collective houses and was signed into law by control.The law also undercut due bargaining to replace it.After passing Governor Jerry Brown. process rights by eliminating the recom- the state senate and assembly, it was The Rodda Act was not a perfect mendation from hearing offic2rs to school vetoed by Governor Reagan in Septem-

A HISTORYOF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 3 3 BEST COPY MAME 35 law. For one thing, the CFT didn't like a long way towards becoming a union, LA;it never gained more than 800 the narrow scope it imposed on what accepting collecfive bargaining and members. The rebellion collapsed when could be bargained. The Winton Act strikes.National AFT-NEA talks col- the NEA, realizing the futility of its dual had had extremely broad scope but no lapsed in 1974, however, partly over the union strategy, offered in essence to pay mechanism to enforce agreement:, The question of labor affiliation, one issue off UTLA's debt (about a million dollars). Rodda At provided the en- UTLA pulled out of UTAC, rejoined CTA, forcement mechanism but and the other chapters followed suit. restricted the scope of bar- ii The California collective bargaining gaining to wages and bene- law took effect at the beginning of 1976. fits, hours, and working con- The first election for an exclusive repre- ditions. sentative bargaining agent was held in Worse, it left the univer- spring in the Tamalpais school district. sities out in the cold, a fact The AFT won. In the next few years the decidedly unappealing to the union won dozens of local election several thousand member victories, including San Francisco and strong UPC (United Profes- several other large districts. But in many sors of California), the state districts the AFT lost, including some of university section of the CFT. the Federation's oldest and most active Waiting for tbe ballot countin Compton College election. After an emergency State CCCFT president Danutn Thorpe, second fmm left. locals: Sacramento, Richmond, Oakland Council meeting in August, and San Diego.In some places the 1975, the CFT reluctantly supported the on which the NEA remained adamnantly union reverted to its role as gadfly of the bill, since it did not appear likely that "professional." While local merger talks larger Association.In others, union anything better could be passed.De- continued, few Association chapters were activists gave up their charter, joined the spite its shortcomings, passage of the willingtobuck theirnational local Association chapter and tried to Rodda Act represented a signal victory organization's position, although not for transfoim it into a real union from within. for the organization that had, on prin- lack of local AFT offers.The CFTs In still other districts the AFT survived, ciple, introduced teacher collective bar- standing offer of unity to the CTA pro- thrived On Association mistakes and gaining hills into legislative sessions vided a vision of the promised land for decertified the local chapter within a time and time again since 1953. California teachers throughout the dec- year or two. At mid-decade in the 1970s the AFT ade, one which served the CFI' well in its But one result of the coming of was the fastest-growing union in the struggle for their hearts and minds. collective bargaining was that in just country. In California the numbers ;,ept At about the same time, back in the over a year the CFT shrunk by nearly pace as the CFT approached 30,00 trenches (and almost by accident), the one third. Membership plunged in dis- members. Unfortunately the state union CFT nearly managed to affiliate an entire tricts after AFT lost the elections; where wasn't quite big enough to take full chunk of the CTA.In 1972 the CTA some locals with 500 members existed advantage of the Rodda Act. The CTA raised its dues to its several geographi- in 1975, by 1980 there remained but a still had more than five times as many cal sections around the state, causing a handful of scrapbooks. The CFT was, members. Thousands of CTA teachers rebellion in southern California led by ironically for a union that had struggled were undoubtedly sympathetic to the UTLA's Executive Director Don Baer. so long for the opportunity, a victim to union, but stayed with the Association CFT and UTLA leadership met with CTA its own premature success.Given its for its insurance and financial programs. chapters from San Diego to Santa Bar- momentum, if another few years had For practical and ideological rea- bara. The rebel CTA chapters decided to passed before collective bargaining was sons the AFT, under the leadership of call themselves UTAC (United Teachers legalized, the cyr might well have been David Selden (AFT president 1968-74) Association of California), wrote up ar- in a better position to challenge the crA proposed merger to the NEA and held ticles of confederation, and developed a for statewide dominance. The Associa- discussions in the early 70s, at national, timeline with arrangements to join CFT tion lost more members than the CFT state and local levels. A united organi- after two years of independent exis- did, but they had more to start with; the zation would have meant an immeasur- tence. By refusing to pay the new dues statewide numbers game was essentially able gain in strength for teachers every- to CTA, UTLA brought NEA into the over by the close of the 70s. where; it would have become the largest picture. The NEA spent a fortune setting Still,the CFT's achievement was union in America. The NEA had moved up a new chapter in Los Angeles, CTA- impressive. With less than one fifth the

3 4 36 BEST COPYAVAILABLE membership of the CFA when collective hership about Proposition 13, the prop- board and union. School district money bargaining became legal, the Federation's erty-tax cutting initiative placed on the was now fixed by the state, leaving little locals garnered almost 45% of the total ballot by right wing populists Howard room for local flexibility at the money votes cast statewide for the two organi- Jarvis and Paul Gann:"If passed,it end of bargaining. zations. In many districts tht. AFT lost hy would decimate the current system for Prop 13 gave school boards a chance an eyelash. The moral victory and raising money for public schools and to plead poverty and uncertainty even if pressure placed on the CFA to function other city/county services that are sub- their coffers were full. Since Prop 13 and like a real union was considerable. stantially dependent for a significant collective bargaining arrived simultane- As jurisdictional lines fell into place amount of their revenue on the property ously, it confused many teachers, caus- for teacher representation, the CFF began tax." SB 90, in 1972, had already limited ing some of them to blame their deterio- the hard work of helping locals to nego- school revenues based on property taxes; rating conditions on collective bargain- tiate and enforce contracts. The union so schools hadn't gained anyway from ing, not Prop 13. And the more cynical held training workshops for local activ- the higher property tax revenues re- school board members and administra- ists and officers, and hired more state- ceived by the state from 1972-78. The tors adroitly fanned that flame. wide fieldrepresentatives to service union joined in a coalition with the In one narrow respect the whole locals. Practically all of these were CFT California Labor Federation, the CTA tax-revolt nightmare may have been a teacher-activists, in keeping with the and a myriad of other organizations to blessing in disguise for fledgling union union's grassroots philosophy. For oppose the initiative.Throughout the negotiators; it set them down in a politi- example, the Community College Coun- year the CFI's presses worked overtime cal pressure cooker, out of which they cil had hired San Mateo Community to educate teachers about the devastat- emerged as far more sophisticated bar- College Federation president Pat Man- ing effects on education and other social gainers than they might otherwise have ning a few years earlier to lead school services that would he caused by Prop become so quickly. budget analysis workshops and organ- 13. The crr contr4)uted money the The new situation tightened the ize. The CFT hired local activists Chuck locals raised over $135,000 and grass- bonds between the CET and its locals. Caniff, Mary Bergan, Clarence Boukas roots teacher power to defeat the initia- For the first several decades of its exis- and Larry Bordan from its own ranks in tive, to no avail. tence the CFT had lived by the simple the early 70s; in 1978 Marian Hull, Tom Passage of Proposition 13 meant maxim that the statewide union was Martin and Julie Minard were added to that public sector collective bargaining only as strong as its locals.In the 60s, the staff. in California faced extraordinary prr-h- with the explosive growth in member- The union also started to consider lems just as it was getting off the ground. ship and consequent strengthening of other organizing opportunities. In 1972 In addition to severely curtailing gov- the CFF, locals grudgingly recognized para-professionals in the San Francisco ernment services and Unified School District had approached laying off thousands of the union regarding affiliation. In 1977 public employees. they became the first non-teacher bar- Prop 13 managed to gaining unit within the CFI' after the change the rules of the national AFT ruled that educational new arrangement in a workers other than teachers could he fundamental way. The admitted. That same year the NEA voted union's assumption not to admit paraprofessionals as full had been that local voting members, while maintaining those school boards would rights for principals. (The NEA reversed continue to exercise that decision two years later.) Over the the ability to generate next several years many more classified local revenue through units elected the AFT their bargaining taxes.Proposition 13 agent. shifted nearly the en- Raoul Teilhet uas a statewide leaderInthe successful fight against the Briggs initiative, which called for a ban on gay wachers. A larger issue than how to negotiate tire school funding and whom to organize soon overtook mechanism to the state.This shift under- the necessary coordinating role of the the union, teachers, public employees cut collective bargaining's promise of CFT. After Prop 13, teachers were much and the general public. In January 1978 shared governance through co-determi- more directly dependent on Sacramento California Teacher warned CFT's mem- nation of the allocation of resources by for their salaries, and had to rely on

I' 37 statewide political action to a far greater for the next 8 years. The local and the degree than before. CFT learned an important lesson In the midst of the turmoil gener- about the negative consequences of ated by Proposition 13 two important overly-aggressive leadership and too events occurred which also pointed many strikes bunched together in too toward the next decade. In April 1978 few years. the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Meanwhile, just 15 miles south of in Watsonville "d is-elected" the Associa- San Francisco, AFT Local 1481, repre- tion chapter, winning the opening round senting the Jefferson Union High School in a struggle that continues to this day District teachers and classified, hit the between CFT and CTA. This was the first bricks and stayed out for 44 days, pro- decertification of a previously elected testing teacher layoffs and contract take- bargaining agent in California. (If only backs in the longest and most bitter unity talks had prevailed!) By the end of school stiikc in the state's history. In the the decade the CFT had won several middle of the strike the local CTA chap- more decertification elections, and barter, adding insult to injury, reversed an gained for school employees in over 50 unspoken agreement between NEA and districts. AFT to respect each other's picket lines, In September 1978 Governor Brown, crossed the lines, and filed a decertifica- making good on a promise to the CFT, tion petition.Despite the betrayal, the signed AB 1091, which authorized union won back all the jobs and success- employees of the state university and UC fully defended the contract. The CTA systems to engage in collective bargain- chapter withdrew its petition. ing. UPC, which represented a plurality As the 70s ended the landscape of among state university faculty, and which teacher unionism in California had been had been (in different organizational irrevocably transformed. The CFT, after forms) for nearly twenty years a vocal hitting a high of 30,000 members and and active section of the CFT, began to plunging down to 20,000, steadily re- prepare for the coming struggle. In fall covered, gaining hack half of the loss of 1979, on the first day after the new law durinb the 'election years of the last went into effect, UPC filed a petition for third of the decade.The union had representation signed by over 50% of maintained its political philosophy to the unit. The election, however, would the left of the association and used that not be held until 1982. position as a magnet to break away the The final year of the decade was CTA's progressives. The CFTs political pockmarked by the predicted effects of course, as demonstrated in such action Prop 13.All across the state school as staunch defense of minorities (against districts were laying off employees, the Briggs anti-gay initiative and the teachers and classified, occasionally even "reverse-discrimination" Bakke suit ) and administrators. One of the hardest-hit helping teachers in trouble, coupled cities was San Francisco, which laid off with solid footing on collective bargain- a staggering 1,200 staff. In response the ing, helped hold the bulk of the mem- SFFF, teachers and paraprofessionals, bership of the union on hoard as politi- went out on a strike that lasted six wceks cal waters grew roughCFI' member- and resulted in the rehiring of over 700 ship was for many activists a home of of the laid-off employees. But it was a sorts, where the ideals of the 1960s pyrrhic victory. Two years later, strike- social movements still shone bri-thtly weary teachers decertified Local 61 as even as the country began its de3cent bargaining agent. While maintaining a into the 80s and the accompanying partial large and active membership, the local eclipse of political reason. remained in non-bargaining agent status

3 6 3S The social setting tor teacher union- dwindled in frequency following the ism in the 1980s resembles its early years 'election years' immediately after pas- in the 1920s. Despite a superficial pros- sage of the Rodda Act.Still, several perity, the gap between the haves and important elections took place. In 1982 the have-nots widened, and previous the CFT suffered a devastating defeat social commitments to helping people when UPC, against the combined oppo- on the bottom of society were eroded by sition of CTA, AAUP (American Associa- those in power. Appeals to free market tion of University Professors) and CSEA ideologies allowed corporate interests (California State Employees Association) to wield uncontrolled command over lost the California State University elec- the rest of society.Under the benign tion by a total of 39 votes in a bargaining gaze of Coolidge-Hoover/Reagan-Bush, unit of 19,000 statewide.What these regulatory agencies were undermined organizations shared, in the merged CFA or abolished; personal freedoms lost (California Faculty Association) was an ground; corruption in high places went aversion to AFL-CIO affiliation, and they unpunished; and organized labor weak- played this card heavily throughout the ened before political and economic at- campaign. All the more ironic that, in ticks. Once more, unions have order to prevent a decertification cam- been forced onto the defen- paign by the still-formidable UPC, CFA sive; institutional mechanisms affiliated directly (through merger of forged by workers' struggles CSEA with another AFL-CIO union, the across half a century to ensure Service Employees) with the California 1980s some groundru!es for coopera- Labor Federation. On this level the CFT tion through collective bargain- lost the war, but achieved a long-sought Teacher Unionism ing (National Labor Relations Board, objective; to affiliate the professors of Occupational Safety and Health Admini- the state university system with organ- Comes of Age stration, Public Employee Relations ized labor. While the Academic Profes- Board) have been subverted by politi- sional unit (fifteen hundred employees) cians and bureaucrats serving corporate chose AFT in a separate election, the power. CFT ended up losing its several thou- If the Reagan years have not been sand UPC members. kind to organized labor, civil liberties The CFT made headway in another and education, it is all the more remark- realm of higher education the following able that teacher unionism has managed year. In 1983 the librarians at the not just to survive but to thrive. One of University of California chose the Uni- the few bright spots for labor in the 70s versity Council/AFT as their exclusive and 80s, in fact, has been public sector bargaining agent; and in 1984 non-sen- organizing, not least with a half million ate faculty at UC also elected the UC/ teacners joining labor through the AFT AFT. The addition of these two state- since 1960. Consequently, the growth wide bargaining units brought full union pains for the CFT have been of a differ- representation to all levels of public ent magnitude than in the 20s or even education in California.The Council the 50s: no one has had to worry that and its constituent locals had repre- teacher unions might be driven out of sented UC employees in a non:bargain- existence. But with the settling of the ing agent status since 1963. Although question of collective bargaining, long- several hundred sympathetic full-time deferred problems have come to occupy professors continue to belong to AFT center stage. In some respects the most anyway, senate faculty at UC remain critical of these is the challenge to define outside the collective bargaining frame- teaching finally as a profession. work.With that exception, the 80s Collective bargaining elections witnessed the institutionalization of

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,OF TEACHERS 3 7 39 collective bargaining in virtually all sec- slashed education budgets, since, ac- Master Plan for Education) examining tors of public education in California; cording to New Right wisdom, "throw- education reform issues were careful to and AFT locals achieved bargaining rights ing money at them" was part of the invite the full participation of teacher for at least one major unit in each sector. problem in the first place. The mobili- union representatives.Proposals for During the implementation of col- zation against public education, while more rigorous entry standards and pro- lective bargaining the CFT gradually seriously damaging the ability of teach- fessional certification procedures have increased ;ts attention to professional ers to teach and students to learn, did been coupled with acknowledgement issues. This did not represent a change have one positive outcome:it helped of the need for higher pay and more of opinion for the organization.The focus public attention on the plight of control by teachers over the learning en- CFT's position through the years on the American education system, and in vironment. In this way the ideological professional issues held firm to a single this way provided an opening for a re- assaultof the New Right against teacher principle: that until the basic legal and examination of the role of teachers. power and public education has been contractual protections were in place for Fortunately the discussion occurred at blunted and partlyturned aroi, teachers no one could speak seriously of an historic moment when teac; iers could A significant reason for suc- teaching as a profession. participate as equals in the debate, thanks cesses in this war for education waged in Short shrift has been given in these to the growth of teacher power through the schools, the media and government pages to all that the CFT accomplished theirunions. As a result,in much the is the new-found unity being forged for the field of teaching itself, for inno- same way as the struggles for teacher between teachers and their co-workers vative pedagogy, and the creation of rights and collective bargaining could be in public education. One of the fastest- sound educational theory and practice. said to have defined the 60s and 70s for growing sectors of t he AFT in this period Barely mentioned are the myriad QuEST the CFT, the closely related issues of isits paraprofessional group, several (Quality Educational Standards in Teach- achieving professionalism and educa- thousand of which live and work in ing) conferences organized and run by tion reform have shaped the events of California. Conscious of the changing the CFT and its locals for the past 25 the most recent decade. nature of the CFT, and concerned that its yea rs for the teachers of California. Even Working to tear down the artificial classified members possess the demo- before QuEST, in the early 60s the CFT barriers between "bargainable issues" cratic tools to participate fully within the established its Curriculum Councils, and other professional matters, the na- union, the union created the Council of which helped inspire the national AFT to tional AFT and the CFI' in California Classified Employees in 1982. create QuEST.Little atten- An implication of this tion has been drawn here to change is that the quest for the innumerable articles teacher professionalism has devoted to these topics in to take into account non-teach- aP the CFT's publications, and ers. This is, at first sight. a written by CFT members for paradox: itis through the academic journals in dozens transformation of an AFL craft of disciplines.Even as the union into a CIO-style indus- fierce picket line, legal and trial union that the movement legislative battles were being towards professionalism is waged for teacher rights, the taking place.Recall that in work of a profession in the late1930s the central process of formation was debate raging in the national carried forward by the un- AFT was whether to remain in ion. Terry Wyatt, officer of Toledo Federation of Teachers. speaks on school reform the AFL or join the newly- at CTT QuEST conference,1988 Meanwhile the early 80s formed CIO.In the 80s, be- heard a chorus of conservative voices have been able to reframe the education longing to the united AFL-CIO, the teach- call for schools to go "back to basics", reform discussion in ways that include ers union recognizes that professional blaming variously teacher unions, con- teachers and paraprofessionals as deci- development, career ladders, and the re- temporary curricula and lax standards sion-making partners. National task structuring of the classroom involve both for declining test scores and high drop- forces (such as the Carnegie Commis- teachers and paras. The union is making out rates.Republican administrations sion) and state bodies (like the Joint sure, through legislation and contract decried the state of the schools, but Legislative Committee to Review the language, that all its members move to-

3 8 4 () gether towards change. The Governor's forgetting took the have eliminated billions of dollars in tax All of these changes have been form in 1983 of cutting nearly a quarter revenues to the state, mostly from the transpiring within an overarching con- billion dollars from the community col- wealthy, including large amounts for text of fiscal uncertainty. School finance lege budget approximately one sixth schools.The coalition achieved its problems didn't begin with Proposition of the total. As a result of compromises success through a dawning recognition 13. In 1971 SB 90 opposed by the CFT worked out by a coali- on the part of signifi- alone among education organizations tion including the CFT, cant segments of the set a limit on the amount of tax money $100 million was republic that Prop 13 may that could go to education. This was the stored, but at the cost of not have been worth it. first blow to public education funding in imposition of $50 tui- A similar sensibility a long, unequal brawl,during which tion in the formerly free pervaded the streets of Prop 13 was merely the most effective system. The Governor San Francisco in July blunt instrument. The CFT, and even a made clear his intent to 1984 on the eve of the united front of teacher organizations, balance the budget on Democratic Party con- could not fight back without assistance. the backs of the work- vention, when teach- After Proposition 13 the new politi- ers, minorities and poor ers marched with their cal reality necessitated formation of close students who comprise union brothers and sis- working alliances between erstwhile a majority of the com- ters in a massive labor opponents in the legislative arena. This munity college student parade of 100,000, Gloria Washington, SFFT activist at protesting the effects of was especially urgent since the eco- population. Robert ralb, in front of school district office nomic agenda of the New Right's assault Gabriner, who just the four years of Reagan- on schooling, served by theGovernor of month before was elected to replace ism on working people. The CFT was California and a former Governor in the Virginia Mulrooney as Community Col- well-represented by Bay Area locals and White House, was closely linked to lege Council president, received a bap- others who came from as far away as San ideological attacks on all public serv- tism of fire, leading the CFT's intense Diego. Raoul Teilhet and AFT president ices. The CFT joined in broad coalitions lobbying efforts in January of 1984 to Albert Shanker marched among the with public employee unions and edu- restore funding. The CFT opposed tui- teachers' union contingent. cation groups to strategize and act to tion until the bitter end, and the reason Teilhet stepped down at the 1985 defeat the continuing stream of regres- why became clear immediately upon its CFT convention after leading the union sive tax legislation and to create and implementation: enrollment of students for 17 years, the longest tenure of any support legislation and ballot initiative in community college campuses situ- CFT president. He was remarkably petitions seeking to equitably fund ated in working class and minority dis- suited to guide the organization through education. tricts plummeted. its period of greatest change and growth Shortly after taking office, Republi- By mid-decade the Community a political leader in politicized times, can Governor Deukmejiandelivered a College Council represented a majority and a dedicated organizer able to help rote "back to basics" speech, justifying of CFT membership. The Council ma- charter dozens of locals. He oversaw the his inadequate education budget. In a tured, having grown from a group of development of a modern union field California Teacher editorial in January locals trading war stories at its inception staff, and hired and worked with the 1983, Teilhet responded to Deukmejian to a major player in the community CFT's legislative advocate in Sacramento, by pointing out the CFT is "...ako com- college system. As with the CFT fifteen Mary Bergan, who over the years has mitted to the "Back to Basics" movement years earlier, the Council and its mem- been consistently voted the top lobbyist but we possibly have a different defini- bership had expanded to the point where in education by her peers. As the first tion of what is 'basic' to quality public it needed a full-time president for effec- teacher elected a vice-president of the education." He went on to list such tive leadership.In 1983 Gabriner be- state AFL-CIO, Teilhet strengthenedthe 'basics' as lower class sizes, better school came the Council's first paidpresident. ties between the CFT and the labor management, allowing teachers to teach In another of the continuing battles movement, ensuring that when the CFI' instead of act as security guards, appro- against anti-public services initiatives speaks, it speaks with the voice of nearly Cali- priate allocations for learning materials, during the decade, the CFT joined with two million AFL-CIO members in etc. He concluded, "The Governorhas other public employee unions in 1984 to fornia. He led the union through much forgotten another one of the basics: defeat Proposition 36, written by Prop of its 'ACLU for teachers' period, the society will get the schools it pays for." 13 co-author Howard Jarvis. This would fight for collective bargaining, the intense bargaining agent election cam- conservatism, poverty and racism. Teachers of English.As an activist- paigns, and into the education refomt The crowd gave a standing ova- scholar, Myers' qualifications provide and as the current Ad- tion and many reached for their era. He was handkerchiefs as he ended his re- him with an appropriate platform from ministrative Director of the CFT, remains marks by recalling both the pride which to lead the union's participation enormously popular with the union and humility he had felt over the in the debates over professionalization membership. No members called him years each time he said:"I am and education refoim. "Mr. Teilhet", or if they did they learned Raoul Teilhet, President of the The national AFT has given Myers California Federation of Teach- quickly; he is simply "Raoul", the presi- ers." alternative governance models to set be- dent who was always there on the picket fore the membership of the CFT and line or testifying on behalf of teachers in The convention elec presi- other interested parties.The Toledo courtrooms or legislative hearings. dent, Miles Myers, the Cr, N senior vice- Federation of Teachers, for instance, has The CFT leaders who were worried president under Teilhet.In Myers the established a program for guiding the about the organization becoming like CFT once more found a president well- professional growth of "interns", proba- the bureaucratic, remote CTA when equipped to steer the union into yet tionary teachers working closely with Teilhet transformed the presidency into another period of transformation:the consulting teachers. The interns are a full-time position voiced a legitimate present era, when full professionaliza- subject to the oversight of a Review concern, one that needs to he monitored tion is on the agenda at last.Myers Board comprised of 5 union teachers by every union continuously. When a began teaching in the Oakland School and 4 administrators, to whom the con- strong leader heads an Districtin the late50s. sulting teachers report.Emphasis is organization the possibil- Serving in practically ev- placed on helping beginning teachers ity always exists for un- ery seat on the Executive learn how the system works and giving democratic practices to Board of Local 771, he them proper levels of material support creep in and take root. But 64,1 became a vice-president and professional guidance by their more Teilhet's presidency dem- 0' t of the CET in the late 60s. experienced colleagues. Another Toledo onstrated that in this case In 1971 he became the program developed a means for inter- the worry was groundless. k(t CFT's representative in vening when a non-probationary teacher A hallmark of the CFT is A Sacramento during the is in serious trouble; again, the emphasis that opposition groups crucial legislative session is on collegial assistance under union have always had access to when CTA switchedits protection. Both programs seek to convention microphones position to favor collective empower teachers through professional and the freedom to organ- bargaining, and the CFT control of their own ranks.The CFT ize for their positions; in stood alone against the Stull brought Toledo Federation of Teachers other words, the union has Act. He edited California officer Terry Wyatt to speak at QuEST been and remains a model Macher for 15 years, from conferences and CFT conventions. of union democracy. CPT pmsidenMiles Myers 1970 until his election as The union has also hosted presenta- Teilhet served that spirit speaks at UCBerkeley anti- president. tions by Adam Urbanski, president of well, understanding the im- apartheidrail', 1985 Despite his activist his- the Rochester, NY Federation.In a possibility of fighting for social justice tory or perhaps because of it district where over half the students without an organization run according Myers is at heart a scholar. Like Ben Rust come from below the poverty line, where to the same principles itself. before him he has published numerous drugs and violence have reached such It was for these ideals that his articles and books on teaching, includ- epidemic proportions that teachers no membership kept electing him presi- ing a respected monograph on writing longer suspend students for "mere pos- dent for 17 years.As the April 1985 assessment procedures, and a model for session of a weapon", the union and Community College Perspective reported achieving professional authority for superintendent worked together to cre- in its article covering Teilhet's emotional teachers, The Teacher Researcher:'dill ate a new structure. Teachers received farewell speech, lo Study Writing in the Classmom,le higher pay and were released from non- also served as the Administrative Direc- teaching duties and excessive paper- Teilhet reminded convention tor of the Bay Area Writing Project at UC work, in exchange for increased respon- delegates of the roots of their or- Berkeley, and is at home equally in the sibilities for instruction and professional ganization: frustrated classroom teachers. Its opponents, he said, labor movement and his academic or- leadership. are equally clear: management, ganization, California Association of The Rochester union and district

4 0 4 2 created a career path with four steps: chronic underfunding of the community ciation, in a nationwide first, worked intern teacher, resident teacher, profes- colleges. It is an achievement of which together with local districts to create six sional teacher and lead teacher.In the CFT can be proud. new Trust Agreement programs. A Rochester lead teachers take the most Local initiatives coordinated by the $90,000 grant from a private foundation difficult class assignments and assist CFI' during the 80s complemented and supported the project. At a news confer- interns. To encourage them to remain extended the work achieved at the state ence in Sacramento announcingthe ar- within the teaching ranks, lead teachers legislative level.Perhaps the most rangement in October Myers said that "...this program is not an alternative to are forbidden to takeadministrative jobs important foray into uncharted terrain during their tenure and for two years by the CFI' was the establishment of collective bargaining but a process afterward. Teachers in Rochester also "Educ nional Policy Trust Agreements" enabling school management and union have taken on the responsibility to asin a number of school districts in 1987 representatives to learn to work together for sess and offer assistance topoorly per- and 1988. Meant to give faculty and as colleagues to improve instruction students." He also noted that "A key forming teachers. adminvrators a mechanism by which to In California in the mid-80s it was grapplc with problems outside the scope element of professionalizing teaching time to review the state's Master Plan for of the collective bargaining law, tne idea involves increasing teachers' decision- Higher Education, last overhauled in of Trust Agreements emerged from the making authority and developing insti- 1960. The CFT sent leaders and rank and report of yet another education reform tutional structures to increase collegial file members to testify before the Master commission, the privately-funded Cali- relationships among teachers, and be- Plan Commission on the condition of fornia Commission on the Teaching tween teachers and management."Still education and what to do about it. One Profession, or "Commons Commission", in its infancy, the Trust Agreement con- AFT of the first areas examined, the Commu- named after its chair Dorman Commons. cept harkens back to the 1925 nity Colleges, ended with its mission Its 1985 report, Who Will Teach Our convention call for te3cher councils in essentially reaffirmed, but with signifi- Children?, recommended 27 specific school governance. Trust Agreements unique cant changes recommended bythe Joint changes in order to make education may prove to be California's Legislative Committee to Review the more effective for students and thefield contribution to national teacher em- Master Plan. Included in these were an more attractive for peoplechoosing powerment and educational reform. increase in funding, greater faculty in- careers. One of these was theestablish- At the same time as the GT pursued educauon it volvement in governance, professional ment of Trust Agreements. new directions for public development for faculty and staff, and Inititally suspicious that the pro- continued to carry out its habitual activi- steps toward redressing thesystem-wide posal signalled an administrative intent ties on behalf of educational employee exploitation of part-time instructors. to return to the dis- The Community College Council of credited 'meet and 4sENO iRS-----"J the CFI', led by Council President Robert confer' model of Win- Ill ;.,t INtRaL Gabriner, played an important role in ton Act days, Miles .4...41,0 1`..;''' 'iCt gaining these results, and in the ultimate Myers became an ad-/1kVIC=iihit_AND SRIARDOR passage of legislation based onthe Joint vocate of the Trust Committee's omnibus legislative pack- Agreement process 4 age, AB 1725.Gabriner chaired the after intensive discus- Californians for Community Colleges sions with its origina- coalition, consisting of all major com- tor, Dr. Charles Kerch- munity college groups, which steered ner of the Claremont the Commission and Joint Committee Graduate School of '3" toward their conclusions. Educa0on. In March of AB 1725 is a pathbreaking piece of 1987 the Petaluma CFT members taw part of a delegation to the El Salvadorteachers' legislation. For the first time, a state has Federation of Teach- union conference in San Salvador;1985 (Rodger Scottphoto, pledged to enlarge its full-time faculty ers, Local 1881, signed by converting pan-timers to full-time the first Trust Agreement in California rights, supporting local collective bar- positions, and to commit funding to the after protracted negotiations, providing gaining responsibilities, and participat- process. AB 1725 sets Afr ;IllativeAction for a major staff development in-service ing in statewide coalitions for adequate goals and allocates the money to achieve program. The following year theCFT funding for schools and other public them. The bill also begins to correct the and the California School Boards Asso- services.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 13 Nor has the union abandoned its temerity of following their own taste in served; another 25,000 people, not yet longstanding support for movements for fashion, staying out past eight in the members,work under its contracts.In social justice. The CFT invited El Salva- evenings or getting married, the CFT spring of 1989 it rejoiced at two electri- dorean teacher unionists to speak at the was so radical as to call for application fying events.Appropriately enough 1986 convention. At the 1987 conven- of the constitutional rights of US citizens these took place in the two cities that tion, resolutions were passed against US to women teachers, too. Basic teacher have figured most prominently, north support for the Nicaraguan Contras and rights law was written by CFT legal cases and fouth, in the story of the union: San xenophobic "English-only" initiatives. In from the 50s through the 70s with the Francisco and Los Angeles. 1988 CFT members gathered thousands selfless actions of scores of courageous In San Francisco teachers voted for of signatures in solidarity with its union teache-s willing to put their careers on the return to collective bargaining agent brothers and sisters in the private sector the line for principle, often against the status of the CFT's oldest active local, the for the restoration of California's Occu- tide of public opinion San Francisco Federa- pational Safety and Healt! Administra- and the wishes of their tion of Teachers, one tion, far more effective than its federal "professional" organi- of the charter locals of equivalent in protecting workers from zations. A half-cen- the statewide Federa- job-related death, disease and injury. tury before the Califor- tion. The local ran on Eliminated by Governor Deukmejian with nia legislature passed a campaign of merger a stroke of the pen, Cal-OSHA is today a collective bargaining with the local Associa- back in operation, thanks to a successful law for teachers, the tion and for restructur- campaign mounted by the union coali- crr believed it neces- ing the city's schools. tion through the ballot initiative process. sary; twenty years be- The president of SFFT The CFT also contributed money, fore the CTA agreed, Local 61, Joan Marie effective lobbying and grassroots local the CFT convinced Shelley, reaffirmed in petition signature gathering to the coali- legislators to present her victory speech her tion efforts to lift the regressive Gann the first collective bar- call for unity of the state spending limit and put a school gaining bill. Federation and Asso- funding initiative on the ballot in 1988. The AFT and the LIMA strike rally,May, 1989 (Tom ciation in San Francisco As one of the four dozen organizations CFT alongside it have LaBarber .a photo) and in all of California. making up Californians for Quality reshaped public debate over the direc- In Los Angeles, a powerful model of Government, the CFT helped gather tion of education. As long ago as the what can be achieved by a united teach- over one million signatures to qualify 1920s the union called for teacher con- ers union was demonstrated in May by the Gann Limit Revision proposition for trol over educational policymaking. UTLA in its extraordinarily successful the ballot in June. The voters failed to Today this type of education reform is two-week strike for higher pay and pass the Revision. They did, however, on the verge of becoming reality, not school-site decision-making councils. vote Proposition 98, initiated by crA over the bodies of the people in the Led by UTLA president (and AFT mem- and supported by CFT, into law in No- classroom but with the union working to ber) Wayne Johnson and Local 1021's vember, ushering in what may be a new ensure that quality education and the president Marvin Katz, twenty four thou- era of stable funding for the state public empowerment of teachers and paras sand chers walked picket lines, educ-tion system. in short, professionalization will re- demoi.,rated and voted together to reject . he California Federation of Teach- sult from the process. Trust Agreements one offer and ratify another.It was an ers has consistently fought for public are but one of the latest contributions of impressive display of teacher power, education, and in most respects has the CFT to improve the quality of life for combining traditional bread and butter worked on the farthest frontiers of the CFT membership and the effective- issues with a visionary proposal for educational change. From its inception ness of education for students. democratic participation in worksite it fought for the rights of teachers when As the California Federation of governance. These two victories for the no one else did. The first tenure law, Teachers approaches the last decade of L.A. teachers add up to a milestone on passed in 1921, was supported by the the twentieth century it is still winning the road to reconstructing teaching as a CFT and the labor movement, and victories for teachers, paraprofessionals, profession. opposed hy virtually every other educa- and other public employees. The CFT Let that image close our narrative for tion organization.In an age when now boasts 32,000 dues-paying mem- now, and serve as a starting place for the women teachers were fired for the bers, the largest membership it has ever struggles yet to come.

4 2 4 4 State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Teilhet, Raoul Sources 1980 Weintraub, Hy

Books Talan, Harriet, 5an Francisco AFL-CIO, How Schools Are Teaching Federation of Teachers: 1919-1949, ;LSO, .1111r. 1 Of. Master's thesis, San Francisco State Guidelines and Lesson Plans, University, 1982 Washington, D.C., 1988 Articles and Pamphlets Braun, Robert J., Teachers and Power: Benson, H. W., "New York Teachers The Story of the American Federation Take an Intelligence Test", New of Teachers. Simon and Schuster, America, December 12, 1961 New York, 1972 Dacker, Michael J., "The American Brody, David, Workers in Industrial Federation of Teachers' Major America: Essays on the 20th Century Concerns and Methods of Achieving Struggle, Oxford University Press, New Goals in the 1920s", unpublished York, 1980 paper, n.d Kornbluh, Joyce L., ed. mid with therman, Myron, "Teachers Choose introductions, Rebel Voices: An IWW December 2, Antholo2y, Charles H. Kerr Publishing a Union...", The Nation, Company, Chicago, 1988 1961 Rust, Ben, "The Spirit of the Bill of Rowe, Frank, The Enemy AmonglaL Rights", CFI', 1954 A Story of Witch-Hunting in the McCarthy Era, Cougar Books, 1980 CFT/AFT Publications and Rust, Ben, The Master Teacher and Periodicals His Craft, Floyd Lyle, Publisher, San American Teacher Bernardino, 1954 The Backgrounder California Teacher Schrecker, Ellen W., No Ivory Towers: CFT Action McCarthyism and the Universities, Community College Council Oxford University Press, New York, Perspective 1986 Sacramento Bulletin Teacher Rights Newsletter Selden, David, The Teacher Rebellion, Union Review Howard Union Press, Washingtor Numerous local publications D.C., 1985 Personal Interviews Dissertations and Theses Axelrod, Marshall Clancy, Lynn R., Jr., A History of the Bergan, Mary American Federation of Teachers. Los Creque, David Angeles. 1919-1969, Ph.D dissertation, Englander, Maurice University of California, Los Angeles, Faust, Wanda 1971 Gabriner, Robert Herndon, James Graybiel, John R., The American Hilgard, Ernest Federation of Teachers. 1916-1928, Horn, Fred Master's thesis, University of Irwin, Eddie California, Berkeley, 1928 Leuhning. Gertrude Minard, Jult Samarin, Deborah, Organizational, Myers, Miles History of the California Federationof Murphy, Marjorie Teachers, Master's thesis, California Schloming, Ralph

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS 43

4 5 San Francisco Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 61 bread-and-butter orientation. The New for decent salaries, (4) to commit San Deal promoted decent housing, cloth- Francisco to a complete curriculum Chartered 1919 ing, and shelter for everyone at the same overhaul (5) and to develop strong, time it was promoting a strong labor forceful, and effective grievance proce- movement, as reflected in such legisla- dures to assist all teachers, regardless of tion as the Wagner Labor Relations Act. affiliation. With its ideological base established During Dan Jackson's tenure as early 61 has been able to devote its President (1956-1965), the Local settled recent attention to educational issues intoitsfirst officea low-ceilinged, along with practical struggles for decent smoke-filled basement at 146 Parnassus Pre-World War II wages, reasonable class sizes, and a Avenue.A Credit Union was put to- Long regarded as a good labor town, safe, productive teaching-and learning- gether by Dan O'Brien.The Local's San Francisco earned that reputation ironment. mimeographed newsletter, "The Re- ith the success of the General Strike in porter," became a feisty, aggressive al- July of 1934 and the subsequent growth Post-World War H ternative to the CTA's mushy house of blue-collar unionism. Chartered by The modern Local dates from 1949 organ,In that post-Sputnik era, the the AFT in 1919, San Francisco Local 61 when a post-war crop of teachers, many union won an impressive victory when has enjoyed the strong support of the of them World War 11 veterans fresh it forced major revisions in a lax curricu- Labor Council and the State Federation from college, began to see the AFT as a lum over the opposition of the Superin- of Labor, though organizing white-col- force for good in education and politics. tendent and the CTA. In 1959, with a lars into unions has never been easy, As early as 1950, the Local had grown to budget of $14,000, the union could look even in San Francisco. The Local has 200 members and was growing steadily. realistically toward hiring a full-time also played an important role in the Throughout the decade of the '50s Local president and staff. labor movement. 61 met or exceeded its membership Like other unions, Local 61 has been quota every year. With the entry of large The 1960s affected by two, not always compatible, numbers of men to the profession, the As with other AFT Locals, the 1960s influences:ideological-unionism and drive was on to make teaching a family- were a period of rapid growth for Local bread-and-butter pragmatism. As with sustaining occupation, where before, as 61. In 1960, the Local pushed through a many pre-World-War II organizations, with many women-dominated occupa- strong discipline code, reinforcing the the Communist issue rose to plague the tions, inferior pay and status prevailed, notion that the AFT was a no-nonsense, union movement. Unlike a number of discouraging permanence in the teach- completely teacher-oriented, teacher- locals, San Francisco survived the red- ing force and dampening prick. in the service organization. baiting of fifteen years of hysterical anti- profession. Ignoring the CTA's concern for Communism. Later, and forthrightly, the Succeeding President Maurice administrator salaries, Howard Rote and California Labor Federation and the Power, a junior college teacher, Presi- Dwight Sandifur developed elaborately- teachers' union went on to oppose dent Arthur Stewart, a hard-driving shop researched salary proposals exclusively McCarthyism and the witch hunts of the teacher, began to give modern shape to for teachers, This approach, developed House Un-American Activities Commit- the Local with his militancy and talent by State President Ben Rust to define the tee, but failed to block a loyalty oath for translating ideas into programs of union's differences with the CTA on requirement for teachers in the 1950s. action. salaries, greatly impressed the School Along with the rest of organized By 1956, when Dan Jackson, a jun- Board and the teachers. Labor, Local 61 engaged actively in the ior high school history teacher, replaced At the end of a one-day demonstra- Civil Rights struggles of the '60s and has Stewart as President, the Local was ready tion strike in 1968, the union had won routinely supported AFL-CIO calls to to embark upon a several-pronged not only significant salary improvements boycott anti-labor products, culminating program: ( 1) to begin to end the practice but a district-paid dental plan and a in strong support of Cesar Chavez's of dual-membership, whereby a teacher class-size limit to he achieved by the efforts to organize farm workers in the joined the CTA for insurance and the affirmative action hiring of 300 new '60s and 70s, union for forceful representation,( 2) teachers, so that, by the end of the This liberal bias in political activism seriously to challenge a complacent, decade, with strong backing from Labor, derives from the progressive social administrator-run CTA for dominance, the local school board was finally forced agenda of the New Deal, as does its (3) to take strong leadership in the fight to reckon seriously w 3 united, mill-

44 4 6 schedule, and district-paid dental bene- tant force of AFT teachers. ing teachers.In fact, class size grew scandalously.Job-security fell to the fits. A year later the union entered into a trust agreement withthe school district The 1970s scythe of Proposition 13. Cut-backs at establishing the Paraprofessional Career The great issue of the decade was, all levels and the CTA's flabby negotiations demoralized teachers, eliminated Program, in which the union and the dis- of course, the union's collective bargain- trict cooperate to enable paraprofes- ing drive.After the State Legislature orderly hiring, firing, and transfer policies, and produced a harried work force. sionals to complete college, earn cre- passed the CFT-sponsored Collective dentials, and become teachers in the Barga'ining legislation, Local 61 won the In the early 1980s Jim Ballard's lead- district. election in 1977. ership became increasingly controver- The present membership of Local Leading up to that election, presi- sial as the Local lost a second collective- dents Dan Jackson, then Al Tapson bargaining election to the CTA. Teach- 61 is a healthy 2200, including a vigorous Retired TeachersChapter, which (1965-1967), then James Ballard (1967- ers feared strike actionsand Ballard's was formed in 1984 and is now amain- 1984) worked hard to build member- association with them. He had locked stay of the local. ship, including the formation of a chap- horns with an intransigent superinten- On May 26, 1989, the rebuilding ter of paraprofessionals in 1972, estab- dent and school board and couldn't re- period ended successfully when Local lish a larger office, hire more staff, and establish good working relations with 61, beating the CTA in a challenging develop a set of membership-drafted them.Each side had become rigidly election, won back the right to serve as demands in preparation for becoming distrustful of the other. In 1984, Ballard turned the leadership over to his Vice- collective bargaining agent.The San the collective bargaining agent. Francisco Federation of Teachers thus But Local 61 had to pioneer the President, Joan-Marie Shelley, a long- began a new and promising chapter in process in Northern California,and the time ally. Her task was to re-invigorate its seventy year history. gains did not come without pains. The the union, prepare it for a new period of Local had previously voted full, largely- growth, gain the confidence of the teachers, and persuade theun-organized to (Maury Englander, Joan-Marie Shelley, con- successful, strikes in 1971 and 1974 tributors) before collective bargaining. In 1979 the join the faithful in a new drive to regain District, using Proposition 13 as an excuse collective bargaining representation. to discredit the union w ith theteachers, The first major challenge under the undertook massive layoffs of some 1,200. new leadership came in 1985when the Responding to that devastating blow, California School Employees Associa- Local 61 had no option but to strike to tion sought to force the school district to re-hire them. decertify SF/AFT That bitter, 6-week strike proved to asbargaining be terribly costly to the teachers and the agent for para- union, so that Local 61, althoughit pro fess i on a Is. forced the re-hiring of hundreds of teach- Local 61 won the ers and paraprofessionals,lost a subse- election handily quent collective bargainingelection in by a margin of 1981 to a CTA that promised gains nearly two to one without pains. and went on to a negctiatethe The 196.-s "longevity" pro- When the School Board engaged in gram, which massive layoffs, the teachers discovered made the 700 that even tenured teachers could he (now up to 1100) fired with the simple, if erroneous, claim most senior para- of financial hardship. Could any other p r o fe ss io na Is action have forced a better result in permanent and 1979?Partly in consequence of the provided them with paid vaca- SPAR COPE phone ban aoing 1980 election campaign.Front, rom incapacity of local districts to deal across left Joan Marie Shelley, Julie Koppich, Jim Ballard;second nnt: Diane the board with their employees, the CTA tions, movement Doe, JudyNtabers,Kim Moran (standing); rear Dennis Kelly, Geny made absolutely no headway represent- on the salary Meister (photo Michael Decastro)

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION,OF TEACHERS 4 5

REST COPY AVAILABLE 4 7 San Diego Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 370 Board, members of which at that time Local 1278's best and first non-city were uniformly residents of the affluent president was Bob Holden of the Chartered 1935 LaGalla and Point Loma communities. Grossmont Community College District. McGeary's bid was unsuccessful, but he It was toward the end of Holden's term did throw a scare into the establishment that Local 1278 was dissolved into inde- and aroused such interest into the Board's pendent locals.Holden gained a de- electoral process that a City Charter served measure of fame by his author- Review Commission, with representa- ship of a series of constitutional amend- tives from organized labor, recom- ments and resolutions at AFT national mended that Board members be nomi- conventions. nated by district and elected at large. Local 370 and the district's teachers The recommendation resulted in a benefited from the outstanding leader- municipal ordinance and the Board in ship of such presidents as Stan Bartnick, time became more representative. Fran Slowiczek, and Morris Jones. It was Local 1278's second president was Bartnick who in 1978 brilliantly spurred Local 370 is one of the earlier AFT the late Gladden Boaz. A social studies and organized the first teachers' strike in locals in California and the We The teacher and a tireless life-long social and the history of the San Diego City Schools. San Diego Federation of Teach- The "strike" was a one day ers has held the number 370 demonstration by hundreds twice.The original Local 370 of courageous AFT teachers (the outgrowth in the San Diego Althoughsome may have who first picketed their own City Schools of the independent schools and then gathered Men's Classroom Teachers Asso- regardedas Iluixotic Local 370's to parade on the grounds ciation, composed mostly of audacity in forcing the election and through the halls of the World War II veterans struggling Administration Center.Al- to raise families on the abysmally upon a reluctant giant, it did though expectedly con- low teachers' salaries of the early compel the association to take demned by the administra- fifties) lasted only briefly before tion and the school board, folding and surrenderingits collective bargaining seriously the strike resulted in an charter. However, primarily immediate increase in the because of the insistence and and to becomemorelikea union. district's unsatisfactory sal- pushing of "the father of the AFT ary offer. in Sal Diego," the late Hal Whitby, Later the same year it was revived as the county-wide Local union activist, it was Boaz who took the SDFT collected sufficient signatures to 1278, with chapters in the city and a lead in establishing and servicing the force a collective bargaining election number of outlying school districts. Ul- chapters in the county school districts. under the terms of the newly opera- timately, when the chapters had become Boaz was succeeded as president by tional Rodda Act.The outcome was solidly established, Local 1278 was dis- another social studies teacher, Fred Horn, predictable. Although Local 370 gained solved and the various chapters became who later became a CFT president. more than three times as many votes as independent locals.The City Schools Horn, in turn, was succeeded by it had members and the San Diego chapter then picked up its old number English teacher Dick Martin, who served Teachers Association gained fewer votes and continued as Local 370. four years as SINT president and also than it had members, the much larger The first president of Local 1278 was became active on the state and national association won the election handily. an aggressive industrial education teacher levels. He has served continuously on Although some may have regarded as named Mort McGeary.Unfortunately, SDFT's executive board since he joined quixotic Local 370's audacity in forcing because he could not support his large the AFT in 1958 and, although now the election upon a reluctant giant, it did family on a teacher's pay. McGeary, after retired from teaching (except for occa- compel the association to take collective his term as president was up, had to sional work as a substitute), is again bargaining seriously and to become more resign from teaching to establish his serving as the local's president. In 1978 like a union, own electrical contracting business, He Martin was the recipient of the CFTs The following year, in fact, the asso- then ran for the San Diego City School Ben Rust award. ciation called its own strike and, al-

4 6 8 The very fact that we though it failed to follow legally re- exist as an alternative waving picket signs and wearing over- quired preliminary steps before walking teacher advocate size buttons proclaimingAm Meritori- out, the strike was supported, in the ous."Dick Martin then delivered a spirit of teacher unity by over 95% of keeps the searing criticism of the plan, which was Local 370's members.Unfortunately, pressure on. subsequently dropped. The association only about half of the association's then still believed that picketing by members participated. The strike, which teachers was undignified andremem- lasted four days, ended very inconclu- ber the aspersion 'unprofessional." sively.One shudders to think what cedure was already in place. Before and Well, they've improved slowly, gradu- might have happened had the half of the during the Winton Act period we man- ally, reluctantly over the years, but.... association's members not been joined aged to get protective language for teach- Now, more than thirty years after by AFT. ers incorporated into thedistrict's ad- the formation of AFT in San Diego, after Since it has been the bargaining ministrative Procedures and Regulations. the expenditure of so much time (which, agent, the association has madeonly Of course, an advocacy organization it should be noted, also sometimes wore very moderate gains for the district's must "police" any agreement it extracts out administrators and madethem more teachers. SDFT, though in the unenvi- from an employer and sometimes that amenable to teacher demands), energy able position of being a non-bargaining means you have to go to court tomake (often to the point of exhaustion and agent local, is still able to make its voice the employer live up to his agreement. endangered health), and money (often heard. Though we cannot directly affect This was signally true in the famous personal funds) but still occupying a the course of events, we can still agi- Adcock case in which ultimately the minority position, what is our reaction? tatesomething the association has State Supreme Court ruled in a 6-1 It is one of quiet pride and satisfaction in always acknowledged in various ways decision that the district has indeed what we have accomplished for teach- that we're good atilluminate, both "arbitrarily and capriciously" transferred ers despite our continuousminority personally and in papers of the Class- Adcock for his exercise of freedom of position. Our present contract is just as room Teacher and other communica- speech and ordered him reassigned to much tht result of our efforts and sacri- tions, and generate ideas for the future. his original position (the association, by fices over the years asitisthe The very fact that we exist as an alterna- the way, remained officially "neutral" on association's. As a result of SDFF tive teacher advocate keeps the pressure the merits of the Adcock transfer). activism, the elements of San Diego's on. Politically, leaders and members of contract were already in placebefore Which bi ings us again to origins and SDFT have alw-,ys been intensely active. SDTA won the election and bargained performance over the years.When It was SDFT which took the lead in San the first contract. SDFT was organized, the SDTA was as Diego County in rallying opposition to We dose with the expression of the . much a company union as a company the Assemblyman Louis Francis' Anti- conviction that our continuing presence union can be. SDF :, in contrast, was an Communist Constitutional Amendment, is necessary if the gains of the past are to activist organization from the start. We which would have particularly adversely be preserved and more achieved in the immediately joined the central labor affected teachers. The association, sadly, future. council and with the assistance of the remained silent on this dangerous, council successfully lobbied, as men- McCarthyite proposal untii just before (DickMartin, contributor) tioned earlier, for a change in the method the election( interestingly, the then of electing school board members. Also president of CTA was a leading sup- with the assistance of the council we porter of the amendment). Fortunately, were able to prevail upon theBoard of the voters rejected it at the polls. Education to institute a board paid cata- Over the years SDFT has regularly strophic medical insurance plan, the first made presentations before the Board of medical plan in the district's history and Education. For many years, we were the the base upon which our present gener- only organization to picket Board of ally satisfactory medical plan was built. Education meetings on various issues of Like other AFT locals, we began critical importance to teachers. For prosecuting grievances when no griev- example, when the Board met to discuss ance procedure existed. By1978 a fairly instituting a merit pay plan, they were decentfor the timesgrievance pro- greeted by scores of AFT members

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFPRNIA FEDERKTIONOF TEACHERS 4 7

4 9 United Teachers of Oakland

AFT Local 771 The Oakland local had its begin- of a labor-affiliated teacher organization Chartered 1943 nings in the Bay Cities Federation of that could bring tog,:ther both classified Teachers, local 349, AFT, AFL, chartered and certificated employees around their in 1934. Since that time the local has had mutual interests with the power of or- numerous name changes including the p iized labor behind them. But, it was Oakland/Alameda County Federation of also a concept of a union that had Teachers, the Oakland Federation of professional goals and a strong commit- Teachers, and its present title of the ment to providing quality education to United Teachers of Oakland. Oakland's students. These were leaders Local 771 received its charter on who saw that the role of teachers should May 3, 1943, The President was Ed Cone, include site and district leadership and a committed teacher unionist who re- should he accorded professional pay turned from retirement in 1976 to serve and status. as the first Grievance Vice President of In 1946 the local supported workers the newly formed United Teachers of during the general strike centered on the Oakland. In addition to Ed Cone, the downtown Oakland shopping area. The Oakland teachers who served as presi- local's major concerns at that time were dent of Local 771 over the years included salaries, pensions, duty free lunch Ed Ross, Ralph Stein haus, Edward "Pete" periods,free towels for students in P.E. Lee, Bob Hudson, Elman Bargfrede, Ron classes, coaching stipends, the length of Miller, Maurice Besse, Tom Roland, the school day, teacher rights and aca- Garlton Garske, Elizabeth Jay, Miles demic freedom, school discipline, de- Myers, Eugene Horwitz, Dave Creque, segregation, the election of school board Walt Swift, Barbara Bissell, and Al Rossi, candidates concerned with the class- the current President. room, and the involvement of the public The Oakland local has a proud in decision making. (The local advo- history of activity around social, educa- cated night hoard meetings and the tional, and professional issues. Ranging district eventually adopted such a pol- from opposition to the Viet Nam war, icy.) Most of these issues remain impor- support for the Farmworkers Union, and tant and unresolved regardless of the active participation in the Bay Area Civil passage of more than 40 years. Rights Movement in the sixties and In the late sixties, the local joined seventies to issues of restructuring and with community groups in protesting teacher professionalism in the eighties, the selection of a new superintendent. local 771 has always been quick to pick The opposition culminated in a sit-in up the cutting issues of the period. The during a school board meeting. NAACP Oakland local has won some landmark representatives and Local 771 President casess in its history of teacher advocacy. Dave Creque ended up in a melee with The Stokes case, for example, involved the police. After hilly clubs and brief the straight forward concept that a school cases finished flying, Creque and the board had to follow its own rules, a NAACP leaders found themselves under ruling that provided a state-wide prece- arrest charged with anarchy, trespass, dent. and a variety of other charges. The In the early years AFT leaders in defendants, known as the Oakland Five, Oakland had to fight for recognition ultimately agreed to a plea of Nolo against a school administration and a Contendere for the crime of standing in local association that had little interest in the aisle at a public meeting. The upshot teacher rights. From that beginning local of the controversy, however, was the Oakland AFTers had a sense of what a hiring of Marcus Foster. widely consid- teaching profession that was worth light- ered the best superintendent that ing for should look like. Their vision was Oakland has had.

4 8 5o Local 771 has also provided tile County, AFL-CIO. UTO's delegates on president for the adult ed chapter of longest running student scholarship in the council include Dave Creque who is UTO. the district. The Allara-Payton-Rosen- on the Council's Executive Committee, Over the last decade two Oakland Cooperrider Scholarship has provided and Lanny Holm and Linton Byington teachers have served the local as treas- Oakland students with $500 scholar- who have been CLC delegates for L70 urer Steve Johnson and DorisWicker, ships since the late fifties. The scholar- for more than a decade. the current treasurer. UTO's organizing ship is awarded to the students who Local 771 has never lacked for quality effort has been coordinated by hard show academic excellence and financial in leadership over the years. Grievance working teachers who have somehow need, and who intend to pursue a career Vice Presidents for UTO have helped found the time at the end of the school in education or some other day to put together phone trees form of public service. and run work parties. The origi- In 1976 the United nal Organizing Vice Presidents for UTO were Sally Eskew Teachers of Oakland ( UTO) UNITED ACM CRS1 was formed out of a merger (TAO) and M Rossi (OFT). Since between the Oakland Fed- then they have included Lorrie eration of Teachers (OFT) Baker and Susie Myers. The present organizing officeris and the Teachers Associa- ND Carol Squicci. Other UTO vice tion of Oakland (TAO). The 1 merger broughttogether gioticArzi, presidents have included: leaders from both the Lanny Holm, Rachel Stern (well known for her workshops on Oakland Education Associa- and Women's tion (OEA ) (Marge Beach, a the Holocaust Rights), Carolyn Rising, Rachel former president of theOEA; Bartlett-Preston, and Grace Sally Eskew, Jim Welsh, and others) and the Off (Bar- Morizawa. Valerie Messer has served as Membership Secre- bara Bissell, Walt Swift, Miles Myers, Al Rossi, Bill Win- tary, and Shirley Haynes represents CFT on a joint AFT-CSEA ston, and others) to form an organization that stood for state-wide committee on safety merger, labor affiliation, and in the schools. UTO's organizing vice collective bargaining, Stan presidents have been respon- Kistner, another htmer OEA president also joined UTO sible for organizing committees that have provided the at that time. Although UTO has not yet succeeded in phone contact between UTO and its building reps. The Area winning the right to repre- Officers on those committees sent all Oakland teachers in have included Debbie San Juan, bargaining, the mix of ideas Sylvia Parker, Grace Morizawa, that set the groundwork for Lorrie Baker, Jean Roberson, UTO continues to inform its and Jon Kramer. activities andgoals. trio marches with labor, 1984 Democratic convention(5.G. Johnson, photo) UTOwent on to repre- (David Crewe, Al Rossi, contributors) sent two bargaining unitsfor the next Nith certificated and classified employ- that were of- decade:theadult education hourly ees in and out of the units teachers and para-professionals in the ficially represented by UTO. Amongthe child development centers. UTO con- grievance officers that have served UTO tracts have consistentlyranked at the top were: Dave Creque,Mike Bradley, Ed and among similar bargainingunits. Cone, June Brumer, Felice York, Throughout the period UTO bar- Kathie Rossi. The current Grievance Vice ed gaining teams have worked closelywith President is Jennifer Block, an adult the Central Labor Council of Alameda teacher formerly the executive vice

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS' 4 9

BEST COPYAVAILABLE 5 1 San Jose Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 957 The Early Years: 1947-1972 era. It also helped support a labor radio Chartered 1947 The founding President of Local program. With no collective bargaining 957, Robert Doerr, who later became for public employees, Local 957 looked Mayor of San Jose, said, -We formed the to the Central Labor Council for support. San Jose Teachers' Union and affiliated Central Labor Council Business Manager with the AFL because we believe that the Earl Moorhead was on the San Jose teacher is one of the most highly pro- Unified School Board, and Henry Gun- ductive of workers, and that the best derson of the Electricians was on the San interests of the schools and of the people Jose Unified and San Jose City College demand an intimate contact in an effec- Boards, and the State Board of Educa- tive cooperation between the teachers tion. and other workers of the community Local 957 participated in many state- upon whom the future of dem( wracy wide and national fight.s for teacher !mist depend." rights. Dismissals at San Jose State (SJS) AFT Local 957 was chartered Janu- without regard to seniority were suc- ary 29, 1947 as the San Jose Teachers' cessfully opposed by 957, the Central Union. (Little is known of an earlier San Labor Council, and the State AFL. Both Jose Local 153 chartered in 1920.) Local Local 957 and the new AFT Local at SJS 957 was a catalyst of teacher unionism in opposed the House Un-American NA:- Santa Clara Valley and a presence in the tivities Committee in 1960. The Local Labor Movement.It attracted teachers demanded updated pension fund re- from throughout the area and later ports in 1963. In 1956, the Local had to became the Santa Clara County Federa- take legal action when Santa Clara USD tion of Teachers. Eventually, AFT Loca Is harassed 957 Treasurer, Jess Sanchez. In were begun at San Jose State( now 1967, 957 and the Central Labor Council representing the Academic Support Staff), supported a peace march and a resolu- Gilroy (instructional aides), and Mitty tion supporting free higher public edu- High School (faculty), among others. cation. In 1970, 957 fought the firing of Local 957 menthers were important SJS local president, Dr. Rcherford. The in the Central Labor Council.Hamil early 957 presidents were Robert Doerr, Wagnon was an officer and Education 1947; Jack Marsh, 1948; Mildred Moore, Chair and authored a column in Me 1949; Ray D'Artenay, 1950; Hamil Wag- Union Gazette.Gone Miller was elected non, 1951; Torrey Smith, 1952; L. Ben to the Central Labor Council Executive Howard, 1953; Mike McGuire, 1962; and Board with Wagnon in 1952.Charles Vic Ulmer, 1963-72. Womack was elected Warden in 1958. Ray D'Artenay was elected to Central San Jose Unified: 1972 to Present Labor Council Hoard in 1961 and be- In 1972 new locals were established came Education Chair.Vic lilmer was and the focus of .,57 reverted to San Jose on the Board fix mi 1965-1973. ContinU Unified. The name since then has been ing the tradition. Mike Nye was elected changed to the San Jose Federation of to the Central Labor CA iuncil Board in Teachers. Mike Nye became the Presi- 1974, became a Central Labor Council dent of' 957 and served until 1976. The Trustee and Chair ot' the Public Em- I()cal fought several battles including a ployee Committee in 1975, and Central maternity leave suit and a struggle led by Labor Council Business Manager from John O'Brien for teachers' testing rights. 1977-81. Carol Webb has been Record- In 1976, Bob Beck became Presi- ing Secretary since 1983. dent of the Federation and led the fight Lmal 957 influenced the Central for collective bargaining. Local 957 Labor Council to support tax and bond grew to more than 400 members and re- elections for the schools in the post-war ceived even more votes, but it wasn't

50 enough. battle, Local 957 produced a prophetic In 1980 we signed our first Adult Ed Bill Duckwall and Susan Devencenzi position paper (by Kathy Eshnaur et. ;intact and helped defeat Prop. 9 Rich- served ably in the following year. The al.), established a reputation for reliabil- tIobbs brought Central America to newsletter was renamed MePhoenix. ity, and gained the support of a solid the attention of the Executive Board, The humorous District Spitoon was majority of Adult Ed teachers. That same which, after study, passed one of the launched.. Good questions and points year the local worked hardagainst Prop. earliest Central Amer- ica peace resolutions. were ra i se d . In 1983 the Local 957 mem- administration of Re- bers kept things lively as when gional Programs was shifted to a joint pow- Don Schulz car- ers agency. Local 957 ried an AFT sign worked to ensure a during the SJTA smooth transition with strike. Unfortu- current employees, nately San Jose wages, and union Unified was not contract being carried Earlier that ready for an early forward. turning of the year the local success- tide. The phoe- Li' 1 fully blocked an administration attempt to nix seed is A planted, but the end most evening time line is un- classes several weeks early. clear. In 1987-88 000.----salmi11111 Local 957 worked for The Adult Mr Education another smooth tran- Years: 1975 to sition as East Side with- Present drew from the consortium and set up its own In 1974-75 a With CTA district commit- program. Carol trebb and Forrest Nixon sign the first Adult EdContract objecting, Local 957 tee produced an in-depth report on the need to improve 13 and then mobilized to minimize cuts was recognized as the bargaining agent. the compensation of Adult Ed teachers. to Adult Ed.It was about that time that A second Executive Board group Forrest Nixon, Then in salary discussions CTA agreed the core group of Forrest Nixon, Carol coalesced in 1987-88; Carol Webb, Pat Hall, Rita Pearl, Chela to a 6% increase for K-12and a 2..0) Webb, Pat Hall, Rita Pearl, Richard Hobbs, increase for Adult Ed. Adult Ed teachers Sheila Lunny. and Harriet Skapinsky Gonzalez, and Alice Cox (MAEP); Sallie McCombs, Pam Lewis, and April Rice were furious. formed. Alice Cox became Human Mike Nye and Local 957 provided Rights Chair and with Genie Bernardini, (East Side); Ray Behvand and Barbara advice, paper, etc. An Adult Ed Chapter provided many interesting potlucks. Hooper (CCOC/P); and Marjorie Meredith was formed with ForrestNixon as chair In 1979, Local 957 won a PERB (retired). Local 957 has successfully negoti- person. Carol Adamski, Par Regdon. election and recognition as bargaining Sheila Lunny, and Stella Norvelle were agent for hourly teachers. aied many changes and looks forward key founding members. The chapter Susan Devencenzi gave invaluable confidently to 'a similar future. began a campaign which ended in suc- help in the first negotiations and was access months later whenthe Board granted claimed as a K-12 teacher who really (Mike Nye, Forrest Nimm, contributors) Adult Ed hourly teachers an equal 6% understood Adult Ed. About that time increase. Susan Hauser began her valuable serv- In 1978 the new director of Regional ice as rep. at the Voc. Center, andSallie Programs instituted a disastrous reor- McConths took the same role with the ganization plan.In the course of that Refugee Project.

5 1 A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS 5 3 BEST COPY AVAILABLE United Teachers of Los Angeles AFT Local 1021 brought to the attention of the 1948 AFT Alexander, Kay Bell, Blanche Garrison convention by Walter Thomas,This and Hy Weintraub. The unit had a hard Chartered 1949 prompted an investigation of Local 430 time in its infancy and it had to contest by the AFT Executive Council.The a virulent anti-union atmosphere in Washington Teachers Union and San education and a school administration Local 1021, the largest AFT local in Francisco Local 61 were also examined. that fostered membership of "their" the State of Califotnia, has a proud The Council had previously investigated teachers in the association which was history. Its development may be divided locals in New York and Cleveland. controlled by those same CTA into four distinct epochs. Local 430's charter was revoked in administrators. The first AFT local in Los Angeles 1949 for the following reasons: The local blithely ignored its was Local 77 founded in 1919. This local miniscule size in a district of some struggled to keep afloat in a sea of anti- ...The conduct of the local had brought 15,000 teachers and addressed issues as unionism in Los Angeles. The CFT was AFT into disrepute; if it were a majority. It took strong stands born in the same year and included only ...,The local had not fur ioned in har- on every issue concerning teachers and seven locals.Local 77 did not last mony with the policies and prin- yet gained very few members. Upon the through the 1930s. ciples of the AFT; and advice of Carl Megel, National AFT In 1935 Local 430 was formed and ...The local had dissipated its energies president, the local began a newspaper received its AFT charter. By 1939 Local "in agitation and politics uncon- edited by Eddie Irwin.In 1958 Eddie 430 was the largest local in the CFT and nected with union objectives" Irwin was elected President of the local. played a major role in teacher union He turned over the editorship to Bob issues. It was active in the Central Labor Thus, the largest AFT local in California Crain who was the editor through 1963. Council and worked to restore pay cuts was put to death. The President of Local In the mid 1950s the President of the to teachers.It also was concerned with 430, who was also the President of the local was Martin Kaufman and Hank teacher involvement in curriculum, r)olicy CFT, was defeated for reelection in 1949. Zivetz was the Executive Secretary. Hank formation, and control at the school site The problem of promoting the Commu- Zivetz had been hired as the first paid level.The local was very active in nist Party line rather than organizing and Executive Secretary in 1956 as member- school board elections, teacher rights promoting bona fide trade unions was ship gained ground. His firebrand or- defense causes and important social not unique to Los Angeles, the state of ganizing techniques and inflammatory California, or the AFT. speeches added many new members. Historians may argue However, the most significant growth in whether revocation of 430's membership occurred in 1958 when charter was justified and may Local 1021 negotiated the Kaiser Health question whether communist Plan for its members. Eddie Irwin, Hank control of the leadership of Zivetz, Vice President Harold Garvin, this local was an accomplished and Evelyn Carstens, the moving force fact. The circumstances behind the negotiations, were respon- surrounding this series of sible for bringing this exclusive plan to events should be known so Local 1021. Evelyn Carstens, chair of t'le that the necessary lesson is local's Health and Welfare committ;,. learned that policies and was an integral part of the leadership in programs that disaffect the 1950s and 1960s.She was much members and the public beloved for her untiring efforts to gain undermine unionism.The health and welfare benefits for the problems of the teamsters' members of this local and all teachers in public image attests to this the district. From topleft: JimStrong,EddieIrwin,Joe Voorhees. problem that has hurt all trade With the use of this Kaiser Health Fmm bottom leJT:Hank Clarke, Bob Holcomb unions. Plan as an organizing tool, membership The teachers in Los quickly grew to over three thousand issues such as equality of opportunity Angeles formed another AFT local and members by the end of 1959. The power for students regardless of race. The local the AFT Executive Council charted it as and prestige of Local 1021 grew with the grew rapidly and reached a membeiship Local 1021. This was the third stage in help of those mentioned previously and of about one thousand teachers in 1946. teacher unionism in Los Angeles. Local Hy Weintraub and Hy Gottof as the Local 430's leadership in the mid to 1021 started with a membership of about local's rep-resentatives to the L.A. Board late 1940s changed and the local's policy 200 members. The first two presidents of Education. Hank Zivetz made a major emphasis began to focus on social and were Joe Voorhees and Walt Thomas. effort to help pass AB 607, a collective international issues.The shift was Other early leaders include Linnea bargaining law, in 1959-1960.Eddie

5 2 5 4 Irwin was elected a national AFT Vice Thomas, son of Walt Thomas, was named but can't tell whether they are affiliated President and served in that capacity for ExecutiveSecretary. An area with the AFT or NEA. It took many far- sighted leaders to put this merged union ten years.As national Vice President representative organizing plan was Irwin helped funnel funds and a ganizing instituted and the following members together. Some of the AFT leaders were efforts into California.The "Union became Area Representatives:Farrel Dave Selden, George Brickhouse, Raoul Teacher," a four-page tabloid, set the Broslawsky, Mervyn Dymally (later to Teilhet, Larry Sibelman and Roger Segure. foundation for future growth. It become an Assemblymember), Willard Among others, the Association presented the news that the other local Hastings, Jack Hutton, Al Poppen. This leaders were Bob Ransome, Don Baer, organizations didn't talk about: issues of system continued for some time. Bill Lambert and Bob Sanders. The first major act of UTLA was a class size,dictatorial administrators, In 1964, the Community College unfairness, freedom of speech, discipline members organized a new Los Angeles strike in April of 1970 to gain a contract. from the teacher's point of view, and local.It was called the L.A. College This strike lasted for over twenty days reports of L.A. Board of Education actions. Guild Local 1521. Eddie Irwin resigned and resulted in an outstanding contract Other issues centered around Board as president of Local 1021 andbecame that was negated by the courts. A large of Education elections. The Board was the first elected president of 1521. Hy number of members quit UTLA over the controlled almost completely by the Weintraub and Farrell Broslawsky, the strike action.UTLA lost about five then-ultra conservative L.A. Times.It 1021 Vice-President, became members practiced slanted journalism and lavished of 1521, as did many other 1021 union coverage on theirhand-picked activists. Hank Zivetz assumed the incumbents. Here though, the presidency of Loca I 1021, Jea n Thompson association, recognizing the necessity of became Executive Secretary and Larry the support of organized labor, joined a Sibelman was the new Vice President. community-based coalition, including From 1966 to 1969 Larry Sibelman labor. Along with the AFT, the served as President and Roger Segure as Association provided money and Executive Secretary. Roger served many manpower to defeat the Timesandinstall years as the local's GrievanceChairperson members more favorable to education. and today remains Director of Grievances In 1957, censorship reared its ugly for UTLA. head (and remains an issue today). The UTLA Local 1021 was born of a Board threatened to censor the "Union merger of AFT Local 1021 andACTLA. The Association of Classroom Teachers Hank Zivetz, ktft, and limner Supnnne Couri Teacher" which had been delivered to Justice and US Secretary of Labor Arthur Goldberg teachers in their boxes in school mail. of Los Angeles was a result of a number The most curious attempt by the Board of mergers of various associations.It thousand members almost all of whom AFT leaders was designed to preventthe printing of had a membership exceeding 17,000 were originally ACTLA. The the strike. A an article that drew a comparisonof the members. AFT Local 1021 had a were the principal actors in majority of strike cluster leaders were problems that Admiral Rickover might membership of between 2,000 and 3,000 incur if he had to deal with the L.A. members.The merged organization 1021 members. From that strike forward Board instead of the U.S. Navy. The was named United Teachers, LosAngeles UTLA Loca 1 1021 -a ffi I ia ted membership membership. administration viewed this as an attack with a NEA/CTA local and an AFT/CFT grew faster than Association The first two Presidents of UTLA on Admiral Rickover and the entireUnited local.UTLA 1021 was the AFT/CFT were Association leaders whilethe last States Navy.The Admiral wrote the local. The merger was ratified by a vote union that he understood the article to of the members in February of 1970. three were AFT-affiliated members: Ha nk Springer was an AFT leader who was be a spoof directed a . :lit:. administrators This new hybrid called UTLA was UTLA President from 1976 to 1980, while who ran the schools and not an attack on the first AFT and NEA affiliated union in Judy Solkovits was UTLA President from him. His letter was printed in the paper. the United States. After twenty years it The struggle to gain collective remains the only merged AFT/NEA 1980 to 1984, national AFT Vice President bargaining was a major thrust of the affiliated union. Other merged local and and CFT Vice President. Our current President is Wayne Johnson who has union in the late 1950s until 1969. Local state unions/associations havebeen been serving in this capacity since 1984. 1021 lobbied the Legislature and wrote failures. This included New York UTLA Local 1021 Presidents have articles in the "Union Teacher". A petition (NYSUT) and the Florida Education Association which became AFT units been Larry Sibelman Judy Solkovits and drive to achieve collective bargaining Michael Bennett, and since 1984 Maw collected over ten thousand signatures. and Hawaii State Teachers Association However, collective bargaining didn't which became a NEA unit. The merger Katz. Maw Katz was recently elected national AFT Vice President. He has also become an actuality until the late 1970s. has worked extremel) well and a vast served since 1985 as crr Vice President. The organizing efforts of Local 1021 majority of the twenty-two thousand took new shape in 1962 when Roger members know they are UTLA members Day Higuchi, MA Local 1021 Vice

AHISTORY OF THE CAHFORNJA 'FEDERATIONOF TEACHERS 53 President, also serves as a CFI' Vice the officers and area chairs are original Bill, and had vetoed hy the Governor in President. wal 1021 members, a pattern that has 1988 a significant retirement Bill. In the I ITLA Local 1021 is today the largest existed for the last ten years. last few years, UTLA has stopped a great AFTlocal west of the Mississippi River Educational, political, social, and deal of legislation harmful to teachers with about five thousand five hundred economic issues are the major concerns and ethication. Bill Lainhen, our Director members and is one of the fifteen largest of UTLA and 1021.The educational of Governmental Affairs, has led these AFT Locals in the United States. lITLA is issues of teacher empowerment and efforts. the second largest teachers union in the educational reform have been important Our Communications Department, United States exclusively serving to the classroom teachers of Los Angeles. headed hy Catherine Carey, has won teachers. UTLA many honors for our bi-weekly has its own bi- tabloid newspaper and our weekly tabloid pioneering productions in the newspaper, use of television programming lohhyist,print on cassettes. We have won more shop, television awards than any other local or facilities, and a state organization/federation in political action the AFT-NEA. We have won two committee with awards from the AFL-CIO's a core of 500 International La bor precinct Communications Association for walkers and the our newspaper and media ability to raise a programming.The L.A. Press quarter of a Cluh has named the "United millkm dollars a Teacher,"thebestlabor yea r in newspaper in Los Angeles. Helen campaign Bernstein has played a vital role money.UTLA in our media pro-gramming. has become a MIA membership has grown political hy five thousand over the last powerhouse in four years and1021 has local and state 1021 President Larry Sibelman speaking to press during 1970 strike. CPT president Raoul Teilbet at bis left accounted for one third of that politics. amount. This has occurred as a Since Nlarv Katz became president Of course teacher rights and working result of membership drives and our in 1984, UTLA Local 1021 has been very conditions are issues fought for hy the success at the bargaining table.Our active in the California Federation of union since its inception. We have been members have had a raise each year Teachers. Unfortunately previous hcal fighting for these through our political averaging almost eight percent in the presidents weren't as active in CPT affairs action arm called PACE (Political Action last four years as well as improvements which hurt the effectiveness of the C17. Council of Educators), as well as through in fringe benefits and working conditions. As UTLA Local 1021 is the largest local in contract bargaining demands. UTLAXTLA Local 1021 is a vital, grow- the CET,itsparticipation in the Social issues .such as integration/ ing teachers union that continually strives organization makes the CFT stronger. desegregation in the 1970s and 1980s as to meet goals of teachers. We need to Mary Katz has been active in C17 for well as policies toward immigrants have organize and bring into our union clas- almost twenty years and believes in a occupied our finances, energy and time. sified workers not already organized hy strong viable CET as a vehicle to impn we Foreign policy in Latin America as well other unions. Our Local 1021 Executive education in California. as human rights worldwide have played Board consists of: Mary Katz, President; The greatest pn)blem that confronted a prominent rolein our activities. Day Higuchi, Vice President; Stan Malin, this local was an internal one revolving Bilingual education has become a major Treasurer; Jerry Solender, Secretary; Pat around a conflict between leaders on organizational concern in the last few Stanyo, Greg Solkovits, Pat Trivers, Edgar affiliation questkms. The membership years. It seems that the same basic issues Cowan, and Dale Johnson. was unconcerned about affiliation and problems in variant forms have to questions from the beginning of the be faced at all times and places, although (Eddie Irwin, Mary Katz, contributors) 1970s.Gradually, the leadership, too. not always at the same intensive level. became mostly unconcerned about This union has an outstanding affiliation questions. Voting patterns in legislative program in Sacramento. We citywide elections for non-affihate officers have passed into law a paperwmk Bill, are of little consequence. A majority of teacher suspension Bill, schoi discipline

5 4

5 6 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Berkeley Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 1078 In 1990, the BET will have reached paint and remodel our houses.We an age of two score years. During these purchased a secondhand mimeograph Chartered 1950 four decades, the teachers' union has machine and produced our monthly undergone a metamorphosis: from an newspaper...which we distributed after infant group struggling for legitimate school to teachers as they left their recognition as an organization to the schools. bargaining agent for certificated staff in In the waning years of the 50s, we the Berkeley Unified School District. announced o ir existence.At board meetings, we were not recognized as an 1950s: organization; we were not given equal Tht. Struggle To Exist time to the BTA at faculty meetings; we This was the age of the imperial rule could not use the school mail; and no of the superintendent. From his throne bulletin boards were made accessible to ofdeclaredinfallibility,the us in the schools. But we prevailed. superintendent governed his educational fiefdom with contemptuous autocracy. The 1960s: The school board existed merely as a Pioneering Educational Reforms mirror to reflect his imperial mandates. We decided to become a community Upon employment, we were versed in political organization. We encouraged the litany that to work in our citythe and supported liberal and pro-labor "Athens of the West" - was satisfaction individuals to seek election to the school enough. We were expected to admire hoard. Our newspaper... The Gadfly...was the garment of his authority and distributed to the community at large. leadership. Evidence of dissatisfaction Within a few years we had a liberal could lead to dismissal without cause to board...who appointed superintendents other provinces of teaching. in tune with the winds of social and His edicts were clear: join the PTA; educational change. become a member of the BTA-CTA-NEA Within the decade the BP7 initiated and conglomerate of professionals dominated received hoard approval for: by administrators; respect and obey your a written personnel policy assuring site principal; talk never of unionism...and teachers of protection with proper behavior, tenure would be a proposal to a:structure the junior granted to us. high schools to put an end to segregation Our beginning salary was $3500. at this level of education Senior teachers with an AB+92 units or a proposal to restructurethe an MA+72 units could receive a top elementary schools (K-6) in order to end salary of $7200 after sixteen years in the desegregation.( We had sought a BFT' district. We had no protective Personnel variation of New York's "More Effective Policies, nor any vehicle to express our Schools" concept. We had asked for a concerns to the school hoard orthe group of schools within a zone which community. Our voice on all educational would have been controlled by the BFT' matters was the superintendent. teachers who would determine The BET's "Founding Fathers" curriculum and the site expenditure of obtained its charter from the AFT in funds. Our plan also introduced two- 1950.Its acquisition and membership way bussing in order to desegregatethe were kept secret...for this was thedecade elementary schools within the zone. The of McCarthyism: when unionism PTAs of the invoked schools supported equalled radicalism which equalled the BFT plan. communism. When the board met to t,ote approval, We met and socialized on weekends. a clever director amended ourproposal We helped each other's families move, to desegregate the entiredistrict's Vil& walked proudly down the halls and corridors ofour elementary schools. Me vote was 5-0 in bankruptcy to our district during the favor.Desegregation of elementary schools after the early 1980s. A State loan saved BUSD schools um achiovd...but the BR. lost strikemand itwas from collapse. Through contract its chance to control the education of a negotiations and necessary arbitration, set of schools gm.erned by teachers. ) principals and other the BM' continues to preserve the rights a specific override taxon the people administrators who of teachers and excellent working of Berkeley to provide the employees of conditions.In 1988, a BUT "walk-out" our school district with medical & dental stammered to explain produced a three year progressive salary coverage, income protection insurance their behavior. increase to keep our staff in competition covering illness and disability, and a with surrounding districts. general insurance coverage. 1990 will complete the two score As the curtain lowered on the 1960s, reconciliation...withlittlefruit on it. existence of BIT and will introduce a we were still the minority organization Hindsight has brought us clairvoyance. new decade. Pessimists are convinced among teachers. Despite our We should have encouraged parents to that respectability will destroy the BFT achievements, most teachers could not send their children to teacher-emptied as it has other members of the AFL-CIO accept our union label (AFL-CIO). They schools to demand an education from family of unions.Complacency ar,d Were "professionals". The melody Of the their movie-showing scabs; and we apathy will be the termites that will eat BTA-CTA lingered on but confidence should not have operated "union tent away the foundations of our organization. was hig", . within the BIT schools" for working mothers with We disagree. And, the very children. publication of this book supports our The 1970s: The economic consequences of our disagreement. When teachers, now and Glorious In Defeat; Triumphant in six week strike continues to this day. So in the future, read this History of California the End do the "joys of remembrance." Never Teachers' linions....they will learn about, The school board remained before nor since has the family of teachers and appreciate their inheritance. While "liberal"...and some members move on existed...a camaraderie of meal sharing our anti-union critics forecast our to higher public office and judgeships and help for others. Never before nor demise...our teacher descendants will with our Alameda County AFL-CIO since has such teacher creativity proclaim: Labor's endorsement.Most assuredly, expressed itself...in art, plays, or songs. "THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING" we thought, teachers would discard their (At the next aT COnvention...ask us antediluvian notions of unionism and about our "Board Eraser.s.1 Tudisco, c(Intributor) join the BFT...for we had the support of We may have lost the battle...we did the hoard. A discordant note was not lose the war. We walked proudly registered in 1976.Members of the down the halls and corridors of our hoard felt they knew what was best for schools after the strike...andit was teachers. Knowing what was best for us, principals and other administrators who they took a paternalistic attitude.An stammered to explain their behavior. impasse developed which required a (And the "Wrals" on the board (10 not rapprochement between the liFT and enjoy higher public office or judgeships the BTA. Our united effortsin today in 1989...because our ('entral negotiations with the hoard collapsed. Labor Council contimies to renwmber. ) Both organizations' members voted to The teachersofBerkeley walk out of their schools of employment. remembered the role of the BET during We had allthe elements Im a the strike. With the appearance of the successful strike: over 95%of the teachers Rodda Act, the teachers of Berkeley honored the picket line; the community voted to have the BFT as its bargaining supported the demands of the striking agent. teacher; and over 85% of the parents kept their children at home. But we did The 1980s: not win. Continued Struggles and Dangers Atter six weeks, the teachers of Prop, 13, the Serrano Act, and board Berkeley accepted the branch of policies brought the spectre of

5 6 56 Santa Barbara Federationof Teachers Also on the labor front Mary AFT Local 1081 realized that in a span of thirty minutes rias: the SBFT had announced its existence, Stephens ( DPI IS ), was elected first Presi- Chartered 1951 challenged the president of the CTC/ dent of the Tri-Counties Central Labor CTA, and defeated a proposal of the Council, AFL-CIO. superintendent. It was an exciting Ed Siemens, 1968 President, pro- Twenty-four teachers gathered in beginning. duced Me Coast Federated Teacher for June 1963 at Jim Jacobsen's house across V"thin six months the Imal had Tri-Counties locals printing Arr news of from the "Queen of the Missions" to payrok. deduction rights, published teachers in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and discuss their interest in the AFT with newsletters, became recognized, and San Luis Obispo. Locals were chartered Ralph Schloming, CFT Representative. engaged in all district activities. Growth in Sawa Paula, Ojai, and Carpinteria. He reviewed the structure and philoso- was slow, hut from 1964-68, Local 1081 Leaders met periodically as a council in phy of the AVEEighteen teachers could take direct responsibility for pre- Oxnard fOr dinner and guest speakers. signed the charter, elected officers, and senting the first comprehensive salary, Dick Reese, a SBJHS Building Rep, fol- paid the customary fees and dues, personnel, and education program to lowed Siemens as president for two Jim Jacobsen ( LaCumbre JHS ) was the districts.Local 1081 successtUlly terms. Reese's surveyproduced a elected President, Vice President George proposed and lobbied for the first dis- comprehensive contract and over 100 Hopping (San Marcos), Treasurer Paul trict-paid fringe benefit.Other Union members. Davis (La Cumbre), Secretary Jim Dugan proposals to become policy were per- Social events built a close relation- (San Marcos), Grievance Chair Jim sonal necessity leave, payroll deduction ship among union members and fami- McDermott (SBFIS), and Central Lahor for insurance, an open transfer policy lies.There were dinners, barheques, Council Rep Tom Martin (SIMS). Other with postings, open tiles, an equitable pot lucks, TGIF's and parties. Luminar- Charter members were: I lelene Findley, summer school hiring policy, and a class ies spoke, such as Paul Schrade, Re- Donna Hallenbeck, Jack Hickok, Bon- and room assignment procedure. Dur- gional Director Of the UAW. A favorite nie Hill, Gene Hill, Wayne jurgensen, ing this period two social studies teach- TGIF location was SBHS math teacher Merrill Remick, Bob Traughber, Marilyn ers from Santa Barbara High School Myrtle Simms' place on Milpas Street. Von Bieherstein, Marshall Von Bieher- served as president, Tom Martin ( 1964- In the early1970'sPresident Liisa stein, Dorothy Collins, and Frank Dohyns. 66) and George Wollschlaeger ( 1966- Jalonen responded to the Nixon wage- Wales Holbrook, a SBLE Psychol- 68). price freeze in a Federal suit with other ogy teacher, told the new leaders AFT SBFT's57members were insuffi- locals to reinstate lost pay.Jalonen Local 1081 existed in Santa Barbara cient to qualify for a Winton Council pnnuoted Central Labor Council partici- folkming WWH, He was past-presi- seat. The Board proposed at least one patkm. Under Jalonen membership dent. In the Depression teachers took a seat for any recognized organization. showed a steady gain. $1,200 pay cut. In 1951 they joined the The SBTA leadership objected vocifer- CTA support of Stull's "teacher AFT to recoup the loss, Once a healthy ously. The SIIFT served on the CEC most firing law" brought many members to raise was granted interest waned. years, hot their proposals often diedfor the union.Jim Belden, SBTA past- Holbrook passed the dues book and lack of a secon(I. When slights like this President and Tom Martin wrote. regula- records to the new leaders. Local 1081 occurred, the following morning a "dawn tions for local implementation of the law was resurrected. patrol" of leaders like Carol Flansen, to alleviate teacher fears. The Union announced its presence Gene Hill, Bruce Roth, and Tom Martin In1974former I.ocal 1081 member when the CTC and superintendent agreed would deliver bulletins to teachers' Gary Hart election in the 35th to a form of exclusive representation fOr mailboxes across the district. Assembly District. Hart's organization in the CTC/CTA without an election At the Cesar Chavez' UFW had friends in Ventura and Santa Barbara has support August meeting the officers nervously Local 1081. In the initial UFW strike Bob from many AFT members. He is the waited in the stifling board room. The Wood and George Wollschlaeger drove Chairperson of the Senate Education CR: president, a future principal, pre- trucks of food, clothing, books, and Committee. sented the proposal, Tom Martin gave a bedding to Delano for the Central Labor By 1974-75many Union intitiatives collectively-prepared statement that the Council, Pete Relis persuaded the SIWT were Board policy.Also, Children secret ballot was the only way to deter- Executive Board to send monthly food Centers teachers were placed on the mine exclusivity. On a board split 2-2 supplies. The local and Supt. Jackson regular teachers' salary schedule with an the proposal was defeated! quietly reached agreement in the70'sto average raise of 15%! CC teachers be- In caucus the union leaders slowly remove non-UFW grapes from cafete- came active SBFT members. One, Beth Yeager, served as President from 1979- union created "interest groups". Re- President.Dovgin had served many 1981. source persons were Frank De Martino/ times as SBHS Faculty Senate Chair. In 1974, 218 teachers received Marge Secrist (Counselors), Gail Johnson That same year SBFT challenged again. notices in the first RIF hearings in the (Nurses), Linda Meier (librarians), Con- Rich and Joanne Dovgin, Couch. Hamil- District. SBFT immeOiately called a nie Barger (coaches), Barbara Forester ton, and the Executive Board spear- meeting at which each teacher was of- (Special Ed.), Steve Crosby (psycholo- headed the campaign.It centered on fered complete legal representation gists), Jean Silver (social workers), Gwen class size, involuntary transfers, reduced without regard to affiliation. SBFT attor- Philips (alternative school), Bill Waxman fringe benefit coverages, extra work ney Matt Biren represented 191 of the (performing arts), and Irene Kim and days, elementary prep period, and 218. All were rehired in Septemher and Nancy Cole (co-np. ed.). Ron Yoshida, teacher unity. SBFT received 38% of the the SBFT had 262 members. Temporary David James, Gail Fenelon, Jim McDer- vote. With a low turnout SBTA barely teachers sought help, too.Victor Van mott, Rich Dovgin Jan and Charlie Clouse had majority support of the unit. During Bourg, CFI' Counsel, represented Dovgin's administration SBFT was them in a suit which went to the one of the few CFT non-barpining California Supreme Court.It clari- agent locals with increasing mem- fied issues regarding the classifica- bership. tion of temps. In 1987 Ron Yoshida assumed AFT locals in the area organ- the presidency. He had been SBFT ized the first Tri-Counties QuEST r CEC Rep., Vice President, Teacher iti." Nana Consortium in1973. Cheryl Rights Representative, Elementary Hoffman, President of Local 2216 k Rep, and school Building Rep. (Carpinteria), a dynamic personal- Yoshida focuses on issues directly ity, helped develop the program. affecting elementary teachers and This first professional forum pre- students. In 1988 he reported sented by a teacher organization in Santa Barbara's poor ranking among Santa Barbara was followed in 1976 twenty comparable districts in class by a larger QuEST Consortium at size and salary. Yoshida stands in UCSB.Albert Shanker and Raoul Mary Stephens receives an Outstanding labor/Educator support of teacher rights, educa- Teilhet were speakers. Assisting in award from Al Shanker and Tom Martin in 1979 tion reform, and teacher unity. He the planning from Santa Barbara were assisted in drafting a comprehensive works for the enhancement of teacher Rich Dovgin, Gwen Phillips, Linda Car- proposal. This was in stark contrast to control over the professional improve- bajal, Shirley Sendrak, Pat Chavez, and the opposition's photostat copy pro- ment of learning conditions. Frank De Martino. duced by CTA. With a 96% voter turnout Local 1081 had begun to husband the SBFT lost by only 54 votes and won (Torn Martin, contributor) resources under 20-year Treasurer Mike 30-35% votes greater than its member- Couch. Couch's budget provided a large ship. office, equipment, money for affiliate As "loyal opposition," SBFT was participation, social events, scholarships, critical when required, and supportive and a reserve for the election.Nearly when appropriate. The Union contin- 1,100 voters were eligible in the May 5, ues to provide advice and unofficial 1977 election. Although SBFT had only representation for teachers. Mark 320 members every member believed "it Hamilton became president after Torn could he done." AFT and CFT provided Martin joined the CFI' Staff in 1978. The great support to the local from across the following year Beth Yeager assumed the nation. Special assistance was provided leadership.In 1979 Yeager embarked by Larry Bordan of the Cyr.Mark on a decertification petition drive but the Hamilton and Beatrice Rosales put to- Union lost the election. gether an excellent home visitation Hamilton returned to the presi- campaign. Union members visited 358 dency in 1981, and in 1983 Rich Dovgin, teacher homes in a three week period. an English teacher, who had served as To develop a contract proposal, the Vicc "-- ident and Secretary became

5 8 o

BEST COPY AVAILABLE Long Beach Federationof Teachers

AFT Local 1263 miss probationary teachers even if the Jerry King remembers the day fel- facts showed that the teachers were low probationary teacher Charlie Mc- Chartered 1956 competent.The "Tri-Teacher Case," Carthy was told he would not be rehired. however, helped change state law re- Local President Don Fitzgerald, on a The Long Beach Federation of Teacli- garding the rights of probationary teach- moment's notice, spent the entire night ers was chartered February 23,1956. An ers. preparing a written response in a futile earlierteacher union, AFT Local 456, The company union of the time, the attempt to dissuade the school admini- was chartered in Long Beach on Maich Teachers Association of Long Beach stration,"I learned a lot that night from 30,1935 and lasted until World (TALID, obliquely referred to Don about what it means to be a teacher War II. LBFT's efforts in defense of advocate and a lot about the cruelty of Shortly after its second teachers in a Ianuary, 1960, arbitrary administrative decisions," birthday Local 1263 was in- editorial in TALB Talks: "While Don Utter and Ed Penn served as volved ina controversy that some organizations are bogged editors, and activist Mark Hannaford epitomized the need for a down NNith sullen dissenters, was later elected mayor of Lakewood teacher union in that period 1 I disgruntled and demoralized and congressman. Members Jerry King when McCarthyism still cast a teachers. TALB is alert with and Marshall Pelle helpfed start the C1-7 long shadow.Jordan High teachers who care enough to credit union and King served on QuEST School teacher Ray de Groat work to improve their lot. This from itsstart as the CFT Curriculum was dismissed in spite of an is dedication we are talking Council. initial recommendation of Prin- about. No isolated pockets of We won the fight for the right to cipal Milt Sager for tenure. pouters, but mature, profes- collective bargaining.In Long Beach, Deputy Superintendent Wright sional people...No teachers' unfortunately, we lost the campaign to ordered Sager to mark de Groat RaymondaeGroal organization...has had more be exclusive representative (251 to 1549). unsatisfactory and recommend that he overall cooperation from the member- Under the leadership of Tom Fadgen not be given tenure, Sager sent Wright a ship and from the administration." (em- and Jerry King the terms: collective bar- memo the Long Beach Teacher reprinted. phasis adde(l) gaining, teacher power (aka empower- Sager wrote, "... kie Groat) is far more ment), grievances, political action, mili- sincere and earnest toward being a re- Other Goals tancy, solidarity, strike, reform, and a ally good teacher than a large majority of In a speech to the Musicians' Local liberal social agenda have become an ou; probationers.... In all justice I be- 353 in 1959, President Ron I lager (who acceptable part of the professional dia- lieve him to be a man of extremely high alsoserved as CFT Parliamentarian) noted logue. We did not , however, have time ideals.... I should be pleased to have him the goals of Him- included: (1) proba- to teach the real meaning of the terms to as a member of my teaching staff on a tionary protection, more than twice our permanent basis." ( 2) transfer of ten- membership foultilierk4..;*;;=%% Members Sager was forced to dismiss de Groat. ure, ( 3 ) reduced class ftrgitiv.e.f The only hint of a reason was the charge: interruptions,( 4) Robert Kalman, an "independence of spirit," which class size reduction, Itteuffi"lost Henry Legere, and apparently described de Groat's politi- (5) retirement im- Bob Ciriello could cal activities as a youngster and as a provements, (6) un- write a book on how teacher union member. used sick leave as to win grievances Two probationary teachers at Jor- severance pay, (7) under an Associa- dan High School, Lucille Couvillon Grieve access to personnel tion's contract which (now Harmon of the al. travel pro- records and a prohi- gives few rights to gram) and Maureen Cameron (Clarke), bition of secret files, Beth, ilenrr. Al, Toni and Bob picket employees. No his- spoke against the administration's arbi- (8 ) district-paid re- theBoardbudding 1970. tory of the local trary action. Grieve and Cameron were tirement, (9) one hour duty-free lunch would be conlplete without amenticm summarily dismissed. Grieve remarked, (10) an end to coercion to belong to an of member Judy Mednick, the first win- "I would not have believed a few months acceptable associatkms, and (11) im- ner of the CFTs Women in Education ago that the episodes which have oc- proved salaries. Award for her academic freedom fight curred in Long Beach could have hap- Growth and movement toward these for the approval of her course Women pened.I thought things like this only goals were thc focus during the 50's and and Men in Literature.LIM- working happened in totalitarian countries." 60's under the leadership of Hugh with Long Beach ACLU won this one. MacColl, Lou Eilerman (who served as Under presidents Frank Ochoa and (Jerry King, contributor) Ron Hager, Local 1263 supported the CET president 1958-60), Ruth (Conrad) "Tri-Teacher Dismissal Case." Eventu- Schweitzer (who served as CFT Secre- ally the court found districts could dis- tary), Don Fitzgerald, and Hal May. Oxnard Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 1273 continued its "collective begging" and formula assures us of approximately was the "bargaining agent," the AFT 66% of alldistrict funds, (b) lottery Chartered 1955 local, then called the "Ventura County money included in the formula with a Federation of Teachers," being the 2% raise effective June 1 of this year, (c) "watchdog" over the school district. teachers of elective classes (shop, home Though we celebrated the arrival economics, art et. al.) will have parity of of Collective Bargaining, our party was class size of 175 maximum student dampened somewhat by the thought of contacts daily without being "dumping the work ahead.In the election on grounds,"(d)counselorsand October 16, 1980, a new role was psychologists with same protections as identified for the local. In a three to one teachers with guaranteed ratios, election victory over the incumbent CTA/ grievance rights, sabbaticals, and release NEA chapter we won the right to from noon duties, (e) increased clerical represent all teachers, nurses, and help for faculty and nurses, (f) Ask any oldtimer in the union the librarians as the exclusive bargaining participation in the hiring process with question: Who creates new locals? All agent in the district. This writer was the OFF's designation of representatives on will answer "Administrators."For the local's treasurer, and the exact dues- allcertificated hiring committees, Oxnard Federation of Teachers the paying membership was 44 teachers, including teachers, counselors, deans, answer is the same. this being in a district that had over 450 assistant principals, as well as the district The local was started in 1955-56 teachers with approximately 350 dues- office staff. during a tumultuous year. Two teachers paying members to the CTA/NEA! Our We have on-going igotiations with were fired simultaneously for writing success was a result of personal contact the district office at all times and work articles for a local newspaper.The and a reputation for honesty, dignity, for all employees insuring that we will superintendent at that time ran a school and integrity. have positive results.We now have system in a super-autocratic fashion, but The work didn't end with that fringe benefits of complete medical, the numerous veterans from WWII and success alone. On May 18, 1982, the dental, vision, and life insurance coverage Korea were unwilling to accept such local assumed additional leadership for all employees and dependents plus treatment. The discharge of these two responsibilities in a two to one election complete coverage upon retirement. articulate and popular teachers brought victory over the incumbent chapter of This year we kicked-off the year instantaneous mass meetings both day the California School Employees with an address by President Albert and night in protest of their discharges. Association. Our local won the right to Shanker of the AFT, a fete and treat that The night meetings were "beach parties" represent all classified employees of the brought many outsiders to our area and in which the concept for forming an AFT Oxnard Union High School District as inspired many diffident people to see local was generated. Most teachers at their bargaining agent. In addition, we what can be done with courage, honesty, that time were neither CrA or AFT worked to obtain bargaining rights for and dedication. This writer is proud of oriented but were supportive of the allparaprofessionals and non- his 40 years of teaching and 32 years of effort to resist the administrative management employees.CG'Inse;ors continuous membership in the greatest denigration of teachers. and psychologists were added to the group of professionals the American A vote of no-confidence for the group in 1986 making the Oxnard Federation of Teachers. superintendent by the faculty of Oxnard Federation the only local to enjoy wall- High School resulted in the trustee's to-wall collective bargaining rights in (Bill Lundquist, contributor) decision not to renew the the state of California. superintendent's contract at the end of And what do we have to share? the following year.Of the original Our local has more than doubled the chartered members only two, Benton salary schedule. From the maximum of Odum and George Bevans, arestill $23,627 at the time of winning bargaining shining examples to the new teachers rights we now have a maximum of that are arriving yearly. $44,869 plus $1500 for longevity, placing Local 1273 languished afterits us in the top 10% of salaries in the state. original charter with 25-30 teachers Some of the current highlights are paying dues; however, the CTA the following: (a) a salary-fringe benefit

60 62 Culver City Federation ofTeachers

Powell steering things as chief negotiator.. Phil Cott became the president and %%'as highly respected by all. Myrk.ne went on to ..)in the AFT staff. The o' d AFT hard-liners started to retire. CIA :lad maintained a presence and 100 members (out of 3.50 teachers). And then Phil Cott left Culver City to practice law. At about that time (1986-8-7) the CIA chapter launched a campaign for Chartered in 1958 by ten brave fullfringe benefits for retirees, teachers, the Culver City Federation of guaranteeing such coverage if they Teachers, Local 1343, struggled for many became the bargaining agent.This in years to gain teacher confidence and the face of the district being financially respect. penalized since 1972 with SB90, a steadily Whileitwas true that the declining enrollment and Serrano. outstanding high school teachers were Despite the excellt..nt IL.adership of in the AFT (along with a few junior high Diane Kaiser. who followed Phil Cott's teachers) it was not until 1970 that an presidency, the CIA filed cards in 1988 elementary teacher joined. A sick-out at and won the election by promising a the high school only, in 1969, equalled 10% raise each year for three years as a major revolution. A few of the teachers well as retiree health benefits.During called in and said, "I'm the eleven year reign of on strike and proud of CUT, CA challenged it!" Those probationary two othetimes and teachers joining in the were fended off. early 60s joined as Mr, New stars have taken or Mrs. X for fear of not over the CCFT getting tenure. leadership, David The advent of the Mielke as president. Winton Act was a boon Kent Gregory and other to CCFT. In 1973 a teachers more recently CCFT member, Jim hired. Durable Jane Murray still hangs in and Powell, became the Jane Murray In1974 chair of theCF,C. is a 110% contributor. Because of Jim's leadership on the During the first year of CTA as Council; the newsletter put out by editor bargaining agent, they negotiated a 4% Cal Pitts;Cal's ex-wife Myrlene, an salary increase, added 20 minutes to the elementary teacher, who became the work day along with other take-aways CCFT president; former presidents Pat and, of course, did not get retiree benefits. Logsdon, Blanche Patton, Perry Polski, 'CCM' will achieve bargainingagent Gary Reidel, Larry Bordan; and other status again in 1991." This positive and activists like Art Coopersmith. Jane for sure quote originates with the C. :Fr Murray and many others, the CCI7 beat executive council, and they mean it. CCTA in the first collective bargaining election in 1977 by one vote in a runoff. (Larry Bordan, contributor) CCTA had three times the members of CCFI'. A super contract was negotiated, including binding arbitration, with Jim

' 63 El Camino College Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1388 One dark night sometime in 1960, underground student newspapers to he a few faculty members from El Camino sold on campus and our own right to use Chartered 1960 College, wthered together by Joe Collier college bulletin boards. We supported and Earl O'Neill, met surreptitiously in a anti-war pnitest. Most significantly, nearby bar with CET rep. Hank Clarke. perhaps, under the leadership of Will Primarily with a view to counterlxi lancing Scoggins, we enlisted in the civil rights the CTA "company union" (which at that cause, Specifically, around 1962 we time included administrators) with a real endorsed and participatedin the labor union, this sedate a I beit free-spirited picketing of a Torrance housing tract group formed the first community college which refused to sell houses to blacks. AFT local in California with the names of That kind of concern persisted and in sixteen members appearing on a charter 1%9 then President Myron Kennedy dated Novemher 1960. wrote an open letterasking for what Mike Pelsinger, our first president. amounted to an affirmative action found reading the flood of incoming program in view of the fact that there mail from UT and An. his heaviest were no black clerical employees,

We practiced what was often called "social unionism"...

duty. Treasurer....()Ilected (Iues and counselors, or ftlministrators and fewer kept minimal re(ii 's. Itshoukl than tw() percent of the student body noted t( X). that (nu ( wiginal constitution was black. %vas largely, if not ( xclusivdy, the work During this period, two student of Al Wrobel and that he had a hand in organizations, Students Against the Draft almost all subsequent revisions of or and the Black Student Union, had a amendments to it. profile on campus. as did Students for a During the locak first ten years or Democratic Society.There were anti- so, its chief role was that of a gadfly.It war rallies, teach-ins and 1351! demands. was the 1960s, after alla time that The FBI had under-cover informants exalted lobbying in Sacrament(); there operating on campus and the John Birch was little a teacher organization could Society exerted anoisy, disruptive do about traditional educational presence at numerous community concerns. So-called business unionism. meetings. This was the raucous milieu i.e., furthering the economic interest of in which our local raised, a bit cautiously, our members, was impossible since it the banner of social change. required recognition as the bargaining We then called that banner Proof agent for the facultya legal status then and made it a m wsletter. It was a name impossible under California law. And suggested by Dave Brady and an obvious so, turning our interests to broader issues, take-off of the Faculty Association's we practiced what was often called PROF. When the first issue appeared, social unionism. October 25. 1963. Iry was president and Spurred on by Iry Boxer and others, Chuck Sohner editor. we acted as a sort of surrogate of the All of this changed in 1977 with the ACLU in fighting for the right of advent of collective bargaining. Against

6 2 6 4 all odds, hut with the inadvertent help ofadministration and with the Hoard of and best wishes that he stay young, administrators attempting intimidation, Trustees have gradually improved over healthy and handsome during his ordeal. t14e Federation, under the charismatic the years as the strength and abi'''y of (Joe Collier(retired), Gerry Karpel, Chuck leadership of Dick Schwarzman,Federationleadershipandthe Sohner (retired), contributors) overwhelmed the (;FA by a vote of Federation's desire to not only further about two to one (although our empower the faculty but also to enhance membership was only about half theirs) the quality of educati(m at the college to become the first community college became apparent.Fewer than half a local in California to win an election and dozen grievances have gone to arbitration negotiate a contract. We began almost since 1977. We attribute this unusually immediately to prepare contract 1(m. number to the strength and detail of proposals for the beginning of formal our contract and the incredibly able negotiations with the district.Again. Grievance Chairs who have served us Dick was the leader in putting them over the ten year period,firstWill together and it was assumed he would Scoggins an(l then Gus Shackelf()rd. act as our chief negotiator. Hut cancer is Over the years that the ECCFT has no respecter of assumptions and soon been the bargaining agent, the faculty Dick became very sick.It was in April. has been well served by the most less than two weeks before negotiations dedicated of individuals who have been were scheduled to begin, that the local's Presidents. Peggy Ferro followed Helen executive c(nnmittee met and reluctantly, Martin for a one year term, Gerry Karpel sadly designated Chuck Sohner for the grew gray hair during her four year stint role that was to have been Dick's. Helen ( followed by nuge gray hair and a few Martin had been vice-president, never more wrinkles as Chief Negotiator t'or dreaming when first elected that shethree years), Joe Georges served would succeed to the presidency under such tragic circumstances or at such a critical time. Hut succeed she did in every sense of The FBI had undercover informants the word, and discharged her operating on campus and the responsibilities John Birch Society exerted a noisy, with light- hearted grace disruptive presence at numerous and competence. community meetings. When she, too, died of cancer. on November 7, 1983, our sad- ness was profound and the loss incalculable. spectacularly as President for two years The ECCFT has remained the (and then as Negotiator for another bargaining agent with only one abortive three), Merrill Jones held the fort for attempt at a decert by CTA; an election three years, and now Lance Widnian was never held.Relations with the begins his presidency. with our thanks

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 6 3 Berkeley Faculty Union

AFT Local 1474 of an intellectual community depends A meeting of the non-Senate faculty not only on the maintenance of faculty was called.About 50 attended and Chartered 1963 academic standards, but on such things established NASFOG, the Non-Academic as the climate of academic freedom on Senate Faculty Organizing Group. This the campus, the extent of political group provided the leadership for the Discussions leading to the formation freedom enjoyed by both students and state collective bargaining campaign. of the University Federation of Teachers faculty, the caliber of instruction at both These activists strategized and blocked (UFT) were started in the spring of 1963 undergraduate and graduate levels, the the University from increasing their under the leadership of Joe Fountenrose. stimulation of original research, and, courseload. They got a taste of what An organizing meeting was scheduled perhaps most imponant, faculty initiative could he won by working collectively. for October 21, 1963, and all members of in university affairs. They took UC to court before the Public professional status including lecturers, Non-Senate faculty (Lecturers, Employment Relations Board and won associates, supervisors and librarians Supervisors ofTeaclwrs Education, back pay for hundreds of non-Senate were invited to attend. At that time Dr. Coordinators, etc.) rarely participated in faculty across the system and rescission Fountenrose was elected President and AFT Local 1474 activities before 1980. of the rotating-door rules in the majority among the issues discussed were better But when the Higher Education Employer of departments at Cal. They delivered medical insurance and housing plans for Employee Relations Act was finally voted more than half of the statewide vote to members of the faculty. The local was at into law by the state legislature in 1978, defeat "no agent" 2 to 1 and elect the AFT this time operating under the name the Council immediately changed focus exclusive bargaining representative for "Berkeley University Teachers Union" from lobbying to fighting in front of the non-Senate faculty. and had already obtained a charter (No. Public Employment Relatkms Board to From this leadership group, Gerry 1474) from the AFT. carve out a winnable statewide 2400- Cavanaugh, Kathy Moran, and Nancy In September of 1964 the local member collective bargaining unit. (The Elnor, are still teaching at Cal; they have issued a statement of purpose which University fought the bargaining law been awarded 3-year contracts, a major outlined a plan to promote the welfare and they fought to create un-winnable concession won in bargaining the first and occupational interest of the faculty bargaining units.) The Council hired an contract ever between UC academics and staff.It was agreed that the union organizer from the ranks of lecturers at and the university.They continue to lead the local.Others who have contributed essential energies over Non-Senate faculty members are the braceros of the years incluCe Harry Rubin, Frances Bloland, Nancy Ahearn, the academic community. Jack London, Eldr:d Smith, Robert Nlartinson, Seyn:our Chatman, Chalks Shein. Pett: Steffens, Francis should stimulate a broad, continuing Cal to launch 'an organizing campaign. Gates, Joe Neilands, Kenneth Stampp, dialogue among Faculty members and Non-Senate faculty members are John Searle, Fred Stripp and Richard with the Administration on the primary the hracems of the academic community. Strohman. issues and policies accompanying the 52% of the unit is women or minority, in transformation of the University. Concern contrast to the traditk)nal white male (Nancy lilrun. contributorl was expressed for preservation of Senate faculty.These young Ph.D.'s conditions most encouraging and most were as qualified as their okler Senate nourishing for the inquisitive mind. colleagues had been at the same stage in Among the core issues discussed were: their careers.But these young faculty Improved faculty retirement system, a were arbitrarily turned out or reduced to medical service administered by the pan-time by revolving-door policies. University, and the establishment of a They had no rights or protections. They grievance procedure. had no voice in the university community Above all the primary interest of and no power to) bargain, as individuals. the members has been the preservation better working conditions.More than and improvement of the Berkeley campus 25% of the total faculty were barred from as an intellectual community, The quality membership in the Senate,

45 4 6 6 San Mateo Community College Federation of Teachers AR Local 1493 Out of this setback came a number part-time faculty.The capper came of steps forward. In 1969 President Ray when Pres. Manning bet the Chancellor Chartered 1963 Lorenzato began our tradition of district- a case of beer in the spring of 1972 that wide flyers, helped form the CFT's AFT's budget figures were closer to Community College Council and called reality than the District's. When the bet for district-wiee union organization. One was won, the local celebrated with the of his most important recruits was a new now-legendary "Chancellor's Beer Party". The Formative Years: 1963-1968 Canada teacher, Pat Manning, who AFT had 100 members once more. AFT Local 1493 was founded in succeeded him as president. Union 1963 as the College of San Mateo membership began to rebound. The Approach of Collective Federation of Teachers by ten courageous The following year, the Union Bargainhig: 1972-1977 faculty, led hy Ed Andrews, The spark reorganized into its present structure, In 1972 the SMCTA, with the for the union's formation came from help of its statewide headquarters a the District's decision to dramatically few miles away in Burlingame, increase class size and the absence invoked the Winton Act to set up a of any organization to protest this Certificated Employees Council. action. ALA., The first CEC had 8 CTA reps and Led by Andrews, Walter Leach, one AFT, but the IInion gained one Gus Page ls and Ray Pflug as seat each year until in 1975 it was presidents, Local 1493 moved into only a 5-1 split. active debate with the '41 From 1972-4 John Kirk, a part- administration over teaching timer, was president. He had been conditions and educational policy. full-time, hut had been cut hack It also won the reinstatement of and the District convinced him not two teachers, Singh and Tunzi, fired to file for reinstatement the last hy the District under the new time Kirk ever made that mistake. Collective bargaining, at last: the victoty party probationary dismissal law. He went on to become the chief While attracting over 100 grievance officer, and later nego- members by 1968, about 1/3 of the with a district-wide Executive Committee tiator, for the Local and to initiate a faculty, the Union's do-it-yourself and three campus chapters. The lawsuit with precedent-setting value activism frightened many faculty. The dominant event of the year, however, when he finally won a full-time perma- Senate's alternative was safe,albeit was the tax election crisis.After voters nent job. ineffective.The CTA waited in the rejected the tax proposition once, the In1971, Manning returned as wings, assuring its many members that it second campaign was led by the District president. While refusing to negmiate could resolveallproblems through Business Manager under the slogan anything, the District cut the pay of Cay professionalism and expertise. "Don't Close Colleges", referring to the part-timers and dumped all the tentative threat to close Canada and Skyline if it agreements that had previously been District Tumult and Union failed. AFT criticized the nature of the made. Reorganization: 1968-1972 campaign, but faculty nevertheless had With the new collective bargaining In 1968-9 Skyline and Canada little choice but to comply and they law in place in 1975, the District still colleges opened and the District made the difference in the positive refused any significant negotiations and headquarters was moved. The faculty outcome. unilaterally made division chairs into and student strikes at SF State and the The AFT began to seriously analyze administrators, while the faculty waited faculty strike at San Jose State, along District budgets at this time and produced until November 1977 to vote for a with CSM's 13lack students' demands for a report and a series of bulletins. The hargaining representative. After it was a beefed up Readiness Program, made Local also successfully defended CSM finally decided that all part-timers would unionism appear dangerous and instructor Larry Stewart, who was be part of the unit, which was AFI"s membership plunged to about 10. dismissed for his public utterances during isition, Marge Murphy, a Canada part- President Terry Curren's success was in the Cambodia invasion. 1493 went on to timer, managed AVI's campaign. The insuring the very survival of the successfully propose a grievance lively and contentious pink flyers were organization, procedure and address the problems of now replaced by the more professional

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 6 5

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 6 7 Adtmate,expertly edited by George by McDonough and Presidents Bill celebration of 1493's first 25 years, held Goth until 1988. Griffiths and Rudy Sanfilippo after him. of 1988 under the leadership of The election count was AFT 330, Together with grievance wizard and new President Steve Ruis, promised to CTA 331 and in the run-off campaign, chief negotiator John Kirk, they had start a new chapter in the history of the led by part-timer Bill Griffiths, AFT lost made AFT stronger and the CTA was local. 407 to 357, partly due to the votes of defeated soundly, 364 to 271. The union That promise was immediately part-timers who were day teachers in hired its first paid local staff, Fred Glass, fulfilled in the spring of 1989.New neighboring CTA districts. who had been a member of the union's Executive Secretary Joe Berry led a "full executive committee as a part-timer and membership campaign" with AFT staffer Perservence or Waiting in the then fulltimer at CSM. The Union, thus Clair Norman. With the phonebanking Wings: 1978-1982 h()Istered with an Executive Secretary, assistance of dozens of full- and part- When Prop13 passed and the embarked upon consolidation. time faculty, over 100 new members CTA's initial one-year contract expired, wal 1493 negotiated office space were brought into the union, strengthen- the Board made drastic cuts, including at CSM along a corridor of faculty offices ing the entire faculty. rescinding all sabbatical leaves. Under housing a number of union Betty Kaupp, the Union carefully did activists.The local bought a nothMg to undermine the bargaining computer. It expandedits agent, but continued to publish the committee structure, creating a Advocate.CIA, the following year, retirement committee with brought back a disastrous contract. The Herman Bates as chair; a part- , faculty ratifieditdespite losing all timers' committee with Henry sabbaticals, past practice guarantees and Quan and then Michelle LaPlace weakening the grievance procedure. and Ron Smith breathing new The Union continued its ultirmiiely lifeinto the old struggle; an successful part-timers' suit, sec ured affirmative action commitee led representation for summer school faculty by Pat Deamer; and a newsletter and, in 1981, announced its intention to committee (it took a whole challenge CTA. The decert campaign committee!) to replace George Faculty and studerits jam board meeting was quiet by contrast, mainly consisting Goth as editor of theAdvocate, for part-timem reform. ofAdvocatearticles and one-on-one with Eric Brenner in charge, contacts. The Local did not gain votes, assisted by Bernie Gershenson.Anita AFT 1493's story shows that diversity but the CTA lost them massively. The Fisher, Elizabeth Burdash and Gladys is not insummuntable if open deim wratic final vote was 350 to 300. Pat Manning, Chaw formed ahealth and safety processes and a consistent emphasis on in his final act as president, presented committee. The union also formed unity are pursued. With this. and regular AFT's bargaining proposals to a newly severaljoint committees with the advocacy for faculty,th,2 success of polite and attentive Board of Trustees. administration a far cry from the early AFF's version of militant teacher unionism days of intransigent District-union is assured. Taking Responsibility: 1982-1989 relations. There was never a shortage of With Betty Kaupp as chief helping hands for folding and addressing one Berry, John Kirk. Pat Manning, negotiator, the Union bargained some faculty communications along the contribut( :rs) improvements in the first contract for corridor of building 15 at CSM. 1982-3 and began the long process of A major campaign was begun in uniting the faculty after years of 1986 to improve conditions for part- internecine battles. The process of timers, which finally resulted in serious winning over the CIA members and the new Aiations with the Districtlatein uncommitted was led by President Joe 1988, but not until faculty had packed McDonough, a demon recruiter wh( m two Board meetings demanding action. full-timers at (M ignored at their peril. In 1986 AFT initiated a claim for tenure The CTA, in May. 1984, made a last and hack pay for 11 part-time English stab to regain bargaining rights.But compositkm instructors, a case still excellent work had been accomplished pending in mid-1989. The gala dinner

6 6 AFT College Guild

AFT Local 1521 Genesis of the AFT College Guild contained some words some members was a divorce.It was mostly friendly, of the community considered less than Chartered 1964 although there were those who objected fit for society. This issue wasn't words to the splitting of the college teachers hut academic freedom, and the Guild from Los Angeles Local 1021 of the waded in with a fight that finally restored 18,000-teacher K-14 district. A committee the teachers to their classrooms. within 1021 met in 1964 at the home of Anderson was president for the last Hy Weintraub, who went on to become two years with the unified district and the first executive secretary of the college took over the executive secretaryship local. By the time the charter banquet for one year under the third president, was held on January 15, 1965, some 200 the late Robert Ruhl (1968-70) as the names were recognized as charter district was separated. members. Hy Weintraub returned as executive Presentation of a program for the secretary and pushed hard for unity colleges by an organization composed among teachers as it became evident of college teachers and devoted solely to that the Winton Act Certificated Employee their interests brought an immediate Council gave no power to the faculty. "It increase in members, a growth that was a charade of bargaining," says continued into the Age of Collective Weintraub, who met some success with

"The fecklessness of the 14finton A4the bad faith of the radkal ma id and hostile attitude 1 in *Wince in one,Imeet a the message wasdriven' e: king."

Bargaining. It was seen early on that a officers of the L.A. College Teachers separate union for teachers was not Association (CTA) toward merger."At enoughthere had to be a separate the last minute," says Weintraub, the district for the colleges. Measure after CTA put pressure on itscollege legislative measure for separation died organization to turn down the merger. in committee or in one house or the The shift to the Guild then intensified." other before one finally passed. Don During the first years of the new Anderson, the Guild's second president Board ofTrustees, teachers were appalled (1966-68), recalls campaigning for its over the intense fighting and bickering passage and the difficulty we had in among its factions. Jean Trapnell, an getting a decent Board of Trustees elected English teacher who later was named to from what seemed like hundreds of the State Board of Governors by the then candidates for the seven offices.The Governor Jerry Brown, started taking Guild briefed and worked for some what someone called "mercilessly candidates like Jerry Brown, hut a rabidly detailed" notes and transcribing them right wing majority prevailed. for a newsletter sent to all teachers. Even before they were seated this What became famous were the quotes at immajority set the scene for controversy by the end of each letter under the heading, demanding the firing of two English "Sacred Sayings." The Guild took over teachers who had read a poem that the distribution of the newsletter and in 1970 issued a little calender booklet with collective bargaining." refusal to expand classes, then the cutting the same title and a selection of sayings. Guild membership grew even more back of positions, particularly among A sample: rapidly in preparation for the CB vote: part-timers.It was to get much worse. 1208 in 1973, 1433 in 1974, and 1770 in In the spring of 1978 the Guild "We must review past mistakes 1975, compared with LACTA's 1188 in suffered another blow when Arnold and build upon them." (Mike An- the same year, the time Fletcher suffered a stroke, tonovich of the passage and which forced him to resign "This is a wonderful example of signing of the bill by in September of 1979. what can be done in a democracy, that Governor Brown. Cedric Sampson (1979-82) someone can stand up in this meeting The Guild filed on wat; elected the HMI and make the statement he just made April 1, 1976 with 58% of president. Mulrooney and not go to prison or a firing squad." the teaching staff, but remained at her post until (Marian La Follette) constant stalling by Sampson resigned to take "A little censorship doesn't hurt." LACTA blocked a vote a study sabbatical. She (Antonovich) until January, 1977. The then took the CEO power "1f you don't have updated c.nies final vote: Guild 1996, that had resided with the of the agenda, please refer to tLem." LACTA 1617, no rep 217. executive secretary to the :e 14i (LaFollette) Despite a challenge of presidency (1982-83). Jim the results, the Guild qffidiA Hardesty be _tine The booklet became a collector's became the sole gri executive secretary. item. bargaining agent for the One of the primary In 1970 the Guild elected a long- LACCD. Eddie Irwin (Shannon ph.:o1 goals of Mulrooney's term time faculty leader, the late Arnold President Fletcher was the inclusion of the Fletcher, to the presidency (1970-79). and chief negotiator Mulrooney led the technical-clerical classified employees Weintraub continued as executive sec- team through months of sometimes as a unit of the Guild, which won their retary for another two years, retiring frustrating but ultimately rewarding work election in 1983 and brought about a after the Guild had reached a thousand to come up with a contract that was reversal of the decline in membership members. His place was taken in 1972 ratified by the membership the day before because of the loss of teachers. Barbara by Virginia Mulrooney, who as assistant Christmas vacation, 1977.Called "one Kleinschmitt and Sandra Lepore led the executive secretary had started the long- of the finest contracts in higher Staff Guild. (See separate story.) The running publication, Read On, a news- education," the document provided for next year Mulrooney accepted the letter that provided full coverage and ex- a retroactive pay raise, cost of living position of vice-chancellor of the L.A. cellent writing by a long series of such adjustment, elected department chairs, Community College District, and Marty unbylined writers as Bill lecture-lab Hittelman, her vice-president, became Doyle. equivalency, binding president.The next election saw the In 1972 the Guild and advisory hardest-fought campaign in the history for the first time passed arbitration,tuition of the Guild, with Hal Fox (1984-88) L.A.cmin membership reimbursement fund, winning over Marty Hittelman, who, a on the Certificated consultation prior to year later, took over the executive Council, which then changing any rule, secretaryship from Hardesty. named Fletcher unlimited half-pay During this period the Guild went president. Read On said sabbaticals, paid through its most traumatic period as the it all: "The fecklessness parental leave, and a administration and board determined of the Winton Act, the three-year contract. they could "revitalize" the district by bad faith of the radical Within three firing 143 permanent teachers. A "hit majority of the Board, years of the contract list" was drawn up by the Personnel and the rigid and hostile Hy Weintraub Una), photo) salaries went up more Division according to priority within a attitude of the central than 23%, hut the discipline, with ties being decided and administration were all in evidence in shadow of Prop. 13 grew longer and careers wiped out with the luck of the one 'meet and confer' session.Once darker. At first its effects were felt with draw.Discipline:: :kat had high class again the message was driven home: the cancellation of summer school, the averages were nevertheless declared

6 8 7 overstaffed.And it was the universal continued over the years. such as the perception among teachers that as chief resolution of grievances. In the first year negotiator for the administration Virginia of the contract, for example, the Guild Mulrooney worked as hard to destroy handled more than 200 grievances, cut the contract as she had as a union leader down to 30 the next year as the to build it. administration learned to live within the Teachers were insulted and contract. A long list of able grievance demeaned at hearings and felt they were reps includes Hy Weintraub, Art Avila, on trialfor being fired. Teachers Bill Doyle, Sylvia Lubow, Kaye Dunagan, appeared en masse at the downtown Gwen Hill, and the current Leon headquarters of the board, only to have Marzillier. the administration call the police. In budget matters Bernie Friedman

leachers were insulted4 demeaned at hearingsand felt they were on trial for being fired. Teachers appeared en mosso atthe downtown headquarters of the board, only to have the administration call the police.

March 15 letters were sent out with and Phil Clarke proved most valuable, the blunt words, "your services will not while in health and welfare and political be required in 1986-87." Fifty-nine other campaign acti :ties, assistant executive teachers retired or resigned, not to be secretary Art Forcier has excelled forever. replaced, and 200-300 hourly rate Connie Rey has been performing valuable teachers were affected by the upheaval. service as legislative advocate and field Sadly, the emotional trauma, the rep. Read On, currently edited by Darrell damage to the educational program, and Eckersley, has been a vital cog in the the bitterness need not have happened operation of the Guild, which has also at all. The Guild, fighting hack on every turned out a steady stream of other front political, demonstrations, press, publications, including a yearly report legal showed that WSCH averages often called "What Have We Done for were not that threatening, that the budget You Lately?" and several booklets on wv not really as dry as the administration retirement, grievances, part-timers, and pic, ured, and that the whole mess was a benefits, as well as volumes of flyers and political ploy.Gradually, names were brochures during the many political taken off the list as transfers to other campaigns for the Board of Trustee:4. disciplines took place and reductions The first president of the Guild has kept were challenged.Only two teachers out of trouble hy designing and have not regained their teaching posts. producing most of these publications for In 1988 Gwen Hill, former vice- these 25 years of Guild history. president and chief negotiator, defeated As the Guild looks toward its second Fox for the presidency. She had spent 5 quarter of century of service, it expects 1/2 years as a national representative for that the issues of the '90s and beyond the AFT. Sylvia Lubow remains as vice- will he no less challenging than those president, and Alice Clement is executive we've met before. secretary. Space has not permitted a full (Eddie Irwin, contributor) discussion of several activities that have

I 'I A I ' 6 AFT Staff Guild AFT Local 1521 870 Clerical/Technical employees. The the unit members. By December of 1983 Established 1982 organization of the classified unit into Aundrea Douglas was hired as the Sec- Local 1521 set a precedent for organiz- retary for the Staff Guild. ing other classified units within commu- Faculty members came forward to nity colleges in California. act as mentors to help support the efforts During its 25 year history, the AFT The College Guild appointed San- of the new classified leadership. Kaye College Guild, Local 1521, evolved into dra Lepore as Executive Secretary-Treas- Dunagan, Faculty Guild Assistant Ex- the second largest AFT/CFT local in urer for the new unit."My marching ecutive Secretary, Grievances, assisted California.In 1982, the local and na- orders were clear", recalls Lepore. "The the Staff Guild with grievances. One of tional AFT organized a decertification first order of business was to launch a the first victories for the staff was to win election for the Clerical/Technical Unit I membership drive and almost immedi- a dismissal hearing for a classified employees ot the Los Angeles Commu- ately hundreds of new members were employee who was wrongfully dis- nity College District. "It was time for the signed up." The staff boasts of its out- charged. Among the first set of griev- Clerical/Technical Unit to be better standing early recruiters particularly Aba ance activists from the classified ranks represented and we felt AFT could do Maccani and Lyse Garland. were Bette Lieber, Eva Lawrence, Gloria the job best," states Dick Contoni, clas- In October 1983 the first election of Wilmot (current Assistant Executive sified activist, who helped make the chapter chairs/delegates and alternates Secretary, Grievances), Daryl Goodman, guild victorious. At that time, Unit I was for the Staff Guild Executive Board was Angela Hernandez, Deborah Odum, represented by the California School held. On November 15 the Staff Guild Sunny Frantz, and Bunnie Kimble. More Employees Association (CSEA) and was elected Barbara Kleinschmitt President, recent activists include Renee Stampolis, the only unit in the LACCD not Lynn Apodaca, Roland Jones and represented by an AFL/CIO un- Charlotte Saldick. ion. In 1983 the District moved Among the many respon- to layoff 500 classified employ- sible for victory, special thanks ees. With the a.i.0tance of the went to classified employees Birt faculty, the Staff Guild filed Tidwell, Jeanne Bascom, Jon Jon lawsuits and an unfair labor Stirrat, Mimi Cooper and Aba charge against the District. "Save Maccani and then Guild Presi- the 500" became the battle cry at dent Virginia Mulrooney, Jim worksites and at the Board of Hardesty, Gwen Hill, Chuck Trustee meetings where rank and Dirks, Marty Hittelman, Don file classified and faculty demon- Misumi, Joe Hinijosa, and Enid strated and protested. The 500 Diamond from the faculty unit. layoffs were rescinded. Campaign workers were assigned All the while the Staff Guild from Detroit, Connecticut, and was working on its first three- California (Elaine Meyers and First Staff Guild negotiating team signs contract with year contract with faculty guild Board (Bob Ovsby photo) Sandra Lepore).Classified and Vice President Marty Hittelman faculty recall the campaign unity and the Birt Tidwell Vice President, and Jeanne serving as chief negotiator. Upon the tense moments during the ballot count. Bascom Secretaiy. Among the first departure of Guild President Virginia United, both groups joyfully celebrated elected chapter chairs for the staff were Mulrooney, Hittelman assumed the role the AFT victory. Local 1521 was certified Tim Hague, Richard Contoni, Gwen of acting Guild President. From Septem- the bargaining agent for the unit on Bowens, Wanda Piekarski, Lois Osborne, ber of 1983 until November of 1984 the August 23, 1983. Wylene Hill, Patricia Westmorekind, Irene negotiating team worked to achieve a The AFT College Guild was the first Jusko, Lois Bolbecher and Gene contract. That agreement was hailed by AFT/CFT community college faculty local Osuagwu. many as the premiere classified contract in California to include classified broth- Local 1521 office staff Lil Skovran, in the country, bringing classified emers and sisters. The newly formed Staff Lil Elman and Reyna Martinez provided ployees into the modern era of collec- Guild continues to be the largest unit of initial support for the new unit. Profes- tive bargaining. The team and the community ,:ollege classified employ- sional staff Art Forcier, Jim I iardesty, and classified unit are forever grateful to ees in California, currently representing Paul Worthrnan assisted in representing chief negotiators Hittelman and Gwen

70 72 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Hill for the solidarity they displayed with new Vice President, Guild has generated a climate of in- their classified brothers and sisters. Vivian Stokes was creased respect for classified employees By 1984/85 the Staff Guild had elected the first Treasurer, throughout the district. achieved 80% membership and negoti- and Jeanne Bascom again served tIi ,! un- The 1987-90 contract furthered the ated agency shop. In Spring of 1984, Hal ion as Secretary. goals of the AFT. With a more respon- Fox was elected President of the local. The next struggle was to prevent sive Board of Trustees and the hard Kleinschmitt was reelected President of faculty layoffs. Dissatisfied with the Board work of Co-Chief Negotiators Klein- the Staff Guild (and has been reelected of Trustees, the guild became involved schmitt and Lepore, and team members since) along with Arlo Coker, Vice Presi- in one of the most heated trustee elec- Marietta Martin, Mike Rorno, Gloria dent and Lydia D'Amico Secretary. tions in the District's history. The guild Wilmot, Abbie Ramirez, Ethel Posner, During that period, Kleinschmitt was endorsed and elected three new Board Wylene Dill, Helen Beaird, Brenda appointed to the National AFT Parapro- members, Wallace Knox, David Lopez Sopher, and Dorothy Rupert, the classi- fessional/ School Related Personnel Lee, and Julia Wu and defeated two fied collective bargaining agreement was Committee (PSRP), was elected Presi- incumbent Board members who had again improved. dent of the Council of Classified Em- voted for layoffs. Guild-supported in- In 1988, Kleinschmitt and Jones ployees CCE/CFT and a Vice President cumbent Hal Garvin was also victorious. continued in their leadership positions. of the CFT, became an officer of CLUW, Through that process, Lois Camarillo Lydia D'Amico and Virve Leps were and was appointed to the UCLA Labor and Armond Keith became the COPE elected treasurer and secretary respec- Center Advisory Board. These accom- activists for the staff. tively.Chapter leaders elected were plishments signified the acceptance of Since it became the bargaining agent Tom Graham, Penny Miller, Jacki classified employees within our Thornton, Abbie Ramirez, Joanne affiliates. Kleinschmitt became no- Koenig, Barbara Stephens, Helen torious as the advocate for classi- Beaird, Irene Jusko and Tonia fied issues. Agron. Lepore continued in her In 1985/86 the Board of Trus- position of Executive Secretary tees moved once more to lay off for the unit. Gwen Hill became classified employees. Once again the president of the local, reaf- staff and faculty demonstrated firming her support for the classi- and protested,On January 1, fied unit. 1986, 13 Unit I employees were Currently, the staff is working laid off.The AFT Staff Guild on the revision of the District's de negotiateda severance grant, Sexual Harassment Policy, nego- recall rights/procedures, and re- tiating policy/procedures for the training options for the affected elk safe and healthful use of Video employees. After the layoff, the Display Terminals, proposing a wellness program, and research- Guild continued to represent Faculty and staff celebrate Board of Trustees those laid off and were able to election victory, 1987 (Bob Crosby photo) ing child care options. achieve offers of reemployment The Clerical/Technical Unit (through unfair labor charges and other in 1983, the Staff Guild negotiated salary has now achieved a level of profession- means) for all but three (action on their increases, improved health benefits, alism and work standards that enables behalf still pending). The current three ensured a safer work environment, and increased job satisfaction. With nearly year controct, 1987-1990, includes re- developed retraining and study oppor- 90% membership (which earned a Na- training options with tuition reimburse- tunities. The union also created career tional AFF membership award in 1988/ ment for employees impacted by the opportunities, such as coordinating 89) the staff can go on record as "trying layoffs of 1986. union/management involvement in a to do what every strong union does.,.to The 1985/86 reopeners were char- reclassification study with rank and file organize and educate and then to repre- acterized by a tight budget but the Staff participation on the committee (Penny sent ourselves." Guild did successfully negotiate a one Miller, Helen Beaird, and Dick Contoni hour lunch, and a 37 1/2 hour work are the AFT Unit I representatives;Bill (SandraLepore, contributor) week for classified employees.That Callahan, CFT representative, has in- same year, Roland Jones became the r.duably served as consultant).The

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 4A, 7 1

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 73 State Center Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1533 Fresno area teachers, especially those at freedom of speech and censorship to FCC, had been considerably weakened. class size and fair pay and benefits. Chartered 1964 Hendrickson, Frodsham, Weinsh- Throughout those yearsThe Federalist enck and the others had made their developed into the voice of, faculty point, and amidst the storm of the Owens concerns. From 1964 until now, one can case, Local 1533, affilated with the AFT find articles and letters to Me Federakst and the California Federation of Teach- from more than two hundred teachers ers, was born with ten charter members. (many of them CTA members) and Its official charter was dated 1964. comments and notes from many more. Though from the onset Local 1533 When the Board or administration failed enjoyed high regard among faculty inter- to disseminate vital information to the ested in the fight for teachers' rights, its faculty, AFT Local 1533 did, often to the membership growth was slow. But the discomfort of authorities bent on hiding Today recognized as a stable, in- success of the local was inevitable, given administrative practices from the fac- novative, responsible, and thriving A171' the quality of early members like Hen- ulty. local, Local 1533 was born out of a drickson, Frodsham, Carl Waddle, Yo- It is interesting to note that the local statewide turmoil over the free speech landa Statham, Maurice Van Gerpen, was always eager to help teachers in rights battle of Jack Owens, a teacher in Robert Merz and others who impressed their professional struggles. In 1970-71, the Lassen County junior college systei... their faculty colleagues with their under- for instance, one finds the local support- Owens' letters criticizing the local edu- standing of the issues of most impor- ing Joan Newcomb (long-time AFT cation system were published in a Las- tance to teachers and by the energy with member and 1988 winner of the Hay- sen County newspaper, and he was fired which they pursued teachers rights in ward Award for teaching excellence and by his school board. A tenured teacher, the days before state law provided teach- leadership) in her formal grievance Owens demanded a Superior Court ers' union organizers with much power procedure against unfair working condi- hearing. Instead of defending its mem- or protection.These were founders tions in the district. The records show ber, the California Teachers Association who were active in all aspects of profes- the bill for legal costs of this case came justified the local superintendent's and sionalismat (then) SCICD, serving in to $85.00.Given the local's average school hoard's acion by insisting Owens senate. grievance hearings, and salary case-by-case expenses in support of had betrayed their (CTA's) highly arbi- neg(Aiations committees. dozens &teachers' grievances in the last trary Code of Ethics, Many early members of the Local twelve years, that doesn't seem like Against these powers, Owens asked that their names be kept a secret, much, but for the still-young local it was fought his case, exhausting his funds, and it is a tribute to the courage of the a large sum. losing a lower court battle and finally, in earlier organizers of the local, teachers With all this service to the faculty, 1962, winning his case (against his own like Maurice Fitzpatrick and Bill Rey- it is not surprising that when the collec- union!) in an overturn ruling by the 3rd nolds, that they would risk earning the tive bargaining election came in 1977, District Court of Appeals. FCC teachers displeasure of their "superiors" hy openly the faculty of the district voted over- Dave Hendrickson, Noel Frodsham, and admitting their membership and fighting whelming foi- AFT's Local 1533. At the Franz Weinshenck met on October 30, for their rights. Perhaps the fears of the time of the election there were 214 1962 in Manchester School (City College "anonymous" members were not en- certificated employees in the (then) was part of the unified district at the tirely unfounded. As late as 1964, in- SCJCD, and 140 were CTA members. time) with CTA state president James structoN at College of the Sequoias were On May 12th, 1977, when AFT Williamson. The FCC teachers carried a threatened with firing because they had Local 1533 President Don Wren filed his demand from their faculty club, whose joined AFT. petition for the local to he designated members urged the Fresno Teachers The pagesof The Federalist from exclusive representative for the full-time Assodation to censure CTA for its be- 1964 through 1977. when membership staff, he turned in the names of 59% of havior in the case. Three fiery debates, was less than half that of the CTA local, the full-time teachers in the district, with Owens facing his accusers in an resound with the eloquent writing of Many CTA members wanted CFT to open forum for the first time since the Local 1533 members like Terty Scam- represent them in the tough negotiating 1958 firings, ensued. Ultimately the FM bray, Gerry Stokle, Jim Piper. Charles battles ahead. Council declined to censure the CTA, Lynes, Carl Waddle. Mary McFarland In the subsequent election, the but the Mk's claim on the loyalties of and others on a range of topics from AFT won over sixty-seven percent of the

7 2 7.1 Many early members of the vote. The hard work and dedication of Local asked that faculty members have joined Local 1533 in the last two years. The Federation is the early members of the local had paid their names be off. Now the hard work of negotiating also the first local in the state to co- contracts with a recalcitrant board and kept a secret... sponsor educational workshopswith its administration began. In the next few district, providing "Writing Across the years Local 1533 presidents and negotia- Curriculum," "Reading Across the Cur- tors like Jim Ruston and Harold Sadler was succeeded as President by Van riculum," and "Critical Thinking" work- would face the task of establishing the Gerpen, who, with skill and integrity, shops in the last three years. union as a powerful and professional led hi, Federation and faculty through Finally, new leadership in the defender of teachers' rights both in and times of double-digit inflation and con- Federation has emerged in the past few out of collective bargaining sessions. tinuing anti-union Board sentiment. years, with members like Paul Kaser, The first post-Rodda Act president 1984 marked a turning point in Richard Valencia, Linda Albright, Allen was Don Wren, who was instrumental in Union-District relations as the Federa- Beck, Ed Perkins, Art Amaro, Tanya Lis- building the Union in the transitional tion, led by President Toni Tyner and the cano, and Jim Studebaker servingthe years before and after collective bar- Executive Council, launched an all-out faculty tirelessly and well. And the "old gaining. The first negotiating team in- campaign to change the make-up of the guard" like Wren, Phillips, and Van cluded Jim Ruston, Celia Maldonado, Board of Trustee.s. Supporting excellent Gerpen continue their involvement, Tom Keefe, and Jim Phillips (who has trustee candidates Warren Kessler and setting high standards of dedication, served on every subsequent team). The Willie Smith, the Federation raised over perseverance, and selflessness, and pro- highlight of our first contract was being $20,000 in campaign money and ran a viding a continuity that ha.s helped Local one of the first districts in the state to get highly sophisticated direct mail cam- 1533 work effectively for State Center binding arbitration of grievances. paign, which resulted in victories for faculty for thirteen years.They have In 1978, after Proposition 13 passed, Kessler and Smith and the ouster of two earned a special place in our history and the District sent lay-off notices to over prominent anti-collective bargaining in our hearts. seventy tenured employees. These fac- board members.It was the biggest ulty members were represented by political victory in the history of the (Toin Tyner, Paul Kaiser, contributors) Federation attorneys in lenghty lay-off Federation and precipitated the gradual hearings, which resulted in all of the positive changes in relations among teachers' jobs being saved.Not so faculty, management, and the board coincidentally, Federation membership which are continuing to this day. rose by nearly 20%, asgrateful faculty The last four years have been good saw the value and the need for Union When the Board or administrationfailed to representation. The late seven- disseminate vital information to thefaculty, ties and early eight- AFT Local 1533 did, often tothe discomfort of ies were marked by strong adversarial authorities bent on hiding administrative relations between the practices from the faculty. Federation and an anti-collective bargaining Board of Trustees.Picketing, ones for the Federation.With inflation board meeting demonstrations, and fact slowed, faculty are finally enjoying some finding were common occurrences dur- negotiated salary gains beyond the cost ing marathon negotiation periods. Fiery of living.Local 1533 has become an Federation President Harold Sadler was acknowledged state leader in negotiat- an unrelenting activist onbehalf of facing excellent retirement plans, including ulty, and John Peterson, Loren Gaither, District-paid benefits, for retiring ern- Wren, Phillips, Maurice Van Gerpen, pk)yees.Federation-supported candi- and Toni Tyner, along with Sadler, dates have continued to be elected to became year-around negotiators. Sadler the Board of Trustees, and thirty new

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FrDERATI I 4-OFTEACHERS 7 3 Peralta Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1603 tion. Therefore employee organizations tation of part time faculty which culmi- actively sought new members. Pm. nated in the filing of a lawsuit against the Chartered 1965 always had the most, but CTA and an district for equal pay and tenure for all independentgroupalsohad part time faculty. One of the PFT presi- representatives.None of the employee dents during the 1970s, Bernardo Garcia groups, however, liked the CEC because Pandavenes noted "I used to call the it had no power. Administration could part-timers the farmworkers of the dis- and did whatever it wanted to do. trict."Mark Greenside, who became To respond to the new era PFT PFT president in 1987, was a part-timer expanded its operations. Roger New- in the 1970s and one of the organizers of man who beca..ne president in 1972 set part-time faculty: "The suit sent shock out to modify the direction of the union. waves through the state as each college The Peralta Federation of Teachers "I had one helluva time with the percep- faculty and administration began to represents over 800 full and part time tion of the union,"he said. "It's one thing understand the import of the action. Lo- faculty at four colleges: Laney, Alameda, to rally around social issues and another cals of tLe AFT began organizing their Merritt and Vista. A fifthcollege, to really represent the faculty."PFT part time faculty and agitating on the Feather River, was deannexed in 1988. hired itsfirst Executive Secretary, Ed issue of equal pay and tenure before The PFr was founded in 1965 by a group Walker, in 1972.Ed recalls tbat "the their local boards of trustees." of faculty who were deeply influenced whole union at that time was in a box. I Finally the California Supreme Court by the issues of the decade: resolved in favor of tenure and civil rights; free speech; Viet- equal pay for a limited number nam. "When we started," noted of Peralta part timers, a total of Jerry Herman, one of the early 26 and a few hundred in other PFr presidents "we were all community college districts in under 30; we were the young the state. The Peralta suit did turks." Shirley Nedham, PFrs not bring justice to the thou- first president, recalls "we col- sands of part timers who work lected money for the farm- -':),t1.1? for low wages under lousy workers; we went to Delano; conditions, but it did galvanize we sat in the fog at Port Chi- t faculty throughout the state. In cago to protest the war in Vi- the wake of the Peralta suit etnam." locals were able to negotiate In those early years, com- soAldlintearnwage increases; seniority for pensation and workload is- .%11,11mr- part timers in one district; and sues were handled by the pro-rated fringe benefits in other faculty senate. PFT spoke to districts.PFT won an agree- the broader social and politi- ment with the trustee board for cal issues. PFT members demonstrate for their first contract. a limited pro-rata salary system Things changed in the for part-timers. 1970's. A new chancellor, Tom Fryer, mean it, a cardboard box, all the files. PFT also won the right for part- and the passage of the Winton Act, were We couldn't afford an office; the treas- time faculty to have full voting rights in key events in this change. Faculty needed urer just said no." all bargaining unit elections (now known a different kind of representation and prr sought to expand its support as the "Peralta presumption" by the advocacy during the Fryer years and the within the faculty by organizing part Public Employment Relations Board). Winton Act provided the forum for the time temporary instructors. Walker was jenette Golds presided over the PFT to move into this role. A Certificated assigned the task and within a year PFr PFT as president during the period 1976 Employees Council was established and had :rt, active part timer committee within to 1980 which included the collective representatives from the iaculty met with its ranks and a separate group which bargaining election years of 1978 and the district on a regular basis. Member- worked outside the prr. 1979. The Executive Secretary was LeRoy ship in CEC was proportional to the There was a great deal of agitation Votto. They were "frantic years" accord- number of members in each organiza- about the issue of the abuse and exploi- ing to Golds, fraught with tension be-

7 4 tween faculty groups as well as two col- become the President of the CFT's just for ourselves but for everyone in the lective bargaining elections. PFT almost Community College Council. The CCC institution. The union became a vehicle won in the first election but a runoff was had been founded in the 1970's by a for reforming the entire district because needed to resolve the question. PFT group of faculty who includedformer no one else would do it." won by more th.two to one. PFT President Ned Pearlstein. Jeanette Now (1989), Peralta has a new The passage of Proposition 13 in Golds had headed the Council for a term Chancellor, many new administrators 1978 and the election of PFT as the in the late 1970's. and a renewed commitment to coopera- exclusive bargaining agent in 1979 thrust During the four year tenure of Bill tive relations between the district and the union in to a new era, one of layoffs, Henderson things began to change. The faculty and staff.The fiscal crisis has conflict and political action. decision to create a Politk al Action abated and enrollment has begun to During the next eight years PFT Committee and to run PFT's own candi- grow thanks in part to aPFT-initiated had to negotiate and administer the col- date for Board of Trustees, former Presi- special program for working adults lective bargaining agreement in the f-::e dent Fran White, was a historic turning (PACE). of six different attempts to lay off ten- point. While White lost to an incumbent, uw.d faculty.Despite the devastating PFT showed it had both organizational (Bob Gabriner, Helen Worthen, contribu- effects on the morale of the faculty, the and financial resources to compete in tors) PFT led a series of successful legal and trustee elections.With the help of political actions to defeat the layoffs. Assemblyman Tom Bates, PFT pres- Over 150 tenured faculty received layoff sured the Peralta trustees to adopt a local notices but less than five faculty are still district area form of elections instead of on layoff status.While faculty were at-large elections. A.s a result, six of the facing an annual spring blood ritual the current seven trustees were PFT-sup- administration and trustees came under ported candidates, increasingly heavy attacks for ineptitude Also in this period the PFT led and cronyism. militant actions of the faculty.It spon- The administration of Donald sored a vote of no confidence against Godbold had started in 1979, just as PFT the Chancellor and administration; it led became the exclusive bargaining agent. "...we were thrust into a positionof advocating not Godbold, like his ust for ourselvesbut for everyone in the I predeces- union became a vehiclefor reforming theintin? sors, operated from a district because no one else would do ft top down perspective and was not open to criticism from his faculty orstaff. the fight for increased pay with a series As Peralta staggered toward the abyss of of sickouts which closed three colleges fiscal and political bankrupcy the faculty during 1985 contract negotiations; it led looked toward PFT for leadership. marches. picketlines and rallies against These were the years of the presi- layoffS, fig more salary adjustments, for dency of Michael Mills, Fran White and refigm of the district. Bill Henderson, all of whom worked "In retrospect." notes Bob Gab- long and hard for the faculty and the riner, "we were a traditional union seek- entire institution. Bob Gabriner became ing more and better things for our fac- the Executive Secretary of PFT in 1979 ulty. But because of the crisis of manage- and provided the organizational backup ment and finance in Peralta, we were for the union. Later Gabriner wei it on to thrust into a position of advocating not

HIS1ORYOF,THE CALIFORNIA FWERATION OF TEACHERS 7 5 United Professors of Marin AFT Local 1610 continued, and the College of Marin continuing violations of Education Code suffered none of the major disruptions Sec. 84362."Subsequent discovery Chartered 1965 that plagued other campuses. delayed the trial for 4 more years. Shortly UPM's files contain a letter dated before the case was due to go to trial the Early records of the United Fehrtnay 1-, 1978, from then-President District, having repeatedly tried to get Professors of Marin reflect a handful of Raoul Teilnet to UPM's then-President the UPM to dismiss the 50% law lawsuit dues-paying members who began getting Paul Christensen congratulating him and to no avail, tried coercive legal action together in the early nineteen sixties. the Union on liPM's selection by the with a plan to lay off approximately 39.5 But this situation did not last long. Our Marin Community College District to he full-time equivalent positions.In April slightly shopworn Charter shows that exclusive representative to the Board of and May the layoff matter was heard by the College of Mann Chapter of AFT Trustees."Your CB election victory an Administrative Law Judge who Local #1610 received a baptismal constitutes the first Bay Area community recommended the lay off of certain certificate on June 26, 1965, which names college election for the AFT," Teilhet respondents, and this was followed on Robert Becklund, T. Howell Breece, told Christensen. June 1, 1984, by the Governing Board's R.C. Conrad, Jack L. Macaulay, Margaret But there were storm clouds ahead vote to lay off approximately 40 D. Greene, Howard R. Blair, Gerald F. for both the District and UPM. Physics certificated employees represented by Buroni, Harry J.Crotty, Michael P. instructor Bob Pewrsen, who had been the UPM. Hansen, Paul Miller, Edwin L. Braun, learning to throw darts and to drink But the layoffs never went through. Irene Clark, Maryjane Dunstan, James L. English hitter while living in Cambridge!, In a settlement reached by both sides Heig and John H. Myers as grantees of England, as a Fulbright exchange during prior to trial, the UPM members won a the Charter and which lists James J. the 1978-79 academic year, had been substantial victory, which included O'Keefe, Samuel Schwartz, Leonard informed by his CoM colleagues that retroactive/recalculated salaries to Weiss, Virginia 0. Philbrick, Larry Snyder, negotiations between the District and reimburse them for their losses during Doris Whalen, William H. Scalapino and the union were not going well at all, in the years when the District was playing Cornelius B. Weber as the Charter spite of a "spectacular" job being done fast and loose with the 500/0 law. The Members of AFT Local No. 1610. by UPM's president Jim Locke. On his District also totally failed in its efforts to Tom Place, former UPM president return to California, Petersen asked Locke have faculty laid off. and still a math teacher at CoM, recalls what he could do to help and was told In its long bade for justice under the period of the late sixties and early he could look into something called the the 50% law, I.TM re1/4eived major help seventies when the College of Marin, "50% Law." Aided by faculty colleague from the CFT Legal tki:nse Fund. Many like campuses all over the country, was Bob Braun, the two Bobs spent the next locals loaned UPM sums of money to seething over the Viet Nam War. Place five years "looking." After the first three help the Union defray As large ongoing was part of a group composed of years of "fumbling with the numbers expenses. The upholding of the 50% Dunstan, Bob Flynn and Berkeley and playing amateur attorneys," they law has henefitted teachers all over Johnson that had informally organized were joined in the search by Michael California. themselves to try to deal with the Brailoff who brought a fresh approach UPM this year is now at the mid- concerns of students, particularly the and renewed vigor to the case. Petersen way point in a three-rear contract, one anti-war activists,in a constructive recalls he spent more of his time with of the best in California. Chief negotiator manner. Place recalls that he routinely attorney Bob Bezemek and Brailoff than on this wntract was Ira Lansing, who checked under the jacket of one angry he did with his own family. It should he had previously served the UPM as student to see if on that particular day he pointed out, however, that in spite of all president.Tara Flandreau, a full-time was carrying a gun. On the occasions the effort spent in preparing the case for member of the music faculty,is when he was toting a gun, Place would trial, there were long, almost continuous completing her second year as UPM quietly walk the student off campus to 30, 22, and 18 month periods of president Tara, who was part-time reason with him.For Place it was a collective bargaining! when sve began her first term as difficult time, since most of his unkm The initial Petition for Writ of president, s one of the few part-timets responsibilities seemed to deal with Mandate and Complaint for Injunctive to hold office as a local union president keeping the younger teachers, who Relief in the 50% law lawsuit was filed in in the State of California. identified more with the students, out of November, 1979. and was amended in (Nikki Lanu)a, Tom Plac, Bob Foerserl, conflict with the older faculty.The September, 1981, seeking addiOrmal contributors) dialogue between students and faculty monies owed as a result of "the I.Y:.,.trict's 11111111=111113M

76 Bakersfield Federationof Teachers The Bakersfield Federation of Teach- has nr le a gift of their life, bringing AFT Local 1866 ers #1866 has a proud history. We were excellence to Our profession, Chartered1968 originally chartered as the Kern County Since May of 1982, the BFI' has Federation of Teachers #643 on May 31, recognized over 100 teachers, counsel- 1939. One prominent member was the ors, principals, and supportpersonnel father of our recently deceased State for their excellence and service to our Senator Walter Stiern( whose distin- students, community and profession. guished career in the State Senate lasted The Albert Einstein Award for 28 years). dedication to learning and excellence in We were rechartered as the Bak- academic achievement has been pre- ersfiekl Federation of Teachers on April sented to Sharon Dormire, Shirley Boz- 18, 1968. Some of our prominent early ina, Annis Cassells, Boh Fullenwider, leaders were John I3ay, Brenda Boggs, Judith O'Brien, and Phyllis Schmitz. This Matt Michael, Takvor Takvorian, Robert year's honoree is Madeline Nichols of Ramey, and Dennis Blackhurn. Emerson Jr. High. During the early 1970s Jack Brigham The John Dewey Award big trail- was elected president of ourlocal.In blazing in modern education while stress- addition to serving our local, Jack was ing student involvement has been pre- elected president of the Kern, Inyo, and sented to Peggy Couch, Richard Meeks, Mono Counties Central Labor Council Oliver Brennan, Betty Saunders, Elaine for two terms and also served as a CFT Joke, and Ramona Gia.This year's vice president for three terms. honoree is Dwane Johnson of Longfel-

Since May of 1982 the BFThas recognized over1001eachers, counselors, principals, and supportpersonnel for their excellence and service to our students,community and profession.

Our "most valua ble member" for the low School. past two decades has been JamesSchmitz The Raoul Teilhet Award for lead- who has served us as treasurer and vice ership, dedication, and service to pro- president. Our local leaders since the fessional educators has been presented mid-1970s have included Linda Ran- to James Schmitz, Donna Lathrop,Freder- dolph, Linda Carbajal, Phyllis Schtnitz, ick Gonzales, Jack Brigham, and Linda Hugh McGowan, Fred Gonzales, Woody Randolph. This year's honoree is Jessie Bagwell, Jessie Ireland, Peggy Couch, Ireland of Williams School. and Annis Cassells The Assemblywoman Dorothy We have sponsored softball tourna- Donahoe and Senator Walter Stiern ments, our country history day compe- Award for political leadership in sup- tition, and participated in local labor and port of public schools wasinitiated in political campaigns. 1985.(This will be the first time the our proudest mon tent takes place award will have been presented since each year when we host our Teacher the passing of former State Senator Walter Honoree Dinner and present perpetual Stiern.) The three recipients have been awards named for prominent AFT lead- Linda Carbajal, Annis Cassells, and Bill e. McLean. This year's honoree is Louie We have listed the names of the Vega o: East Bakersfield High. BCSI educators who have received our perpetual awards and membership in (Jack Brigham, contributor) our BFT Hall of Fame since 1982,Each

' ' Petaluma Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1881 of its award-winning newsletter, Me Norman was elected a CFT state vice Petaluma Priority, has conducted president. Chartered 1969 numerous surveys of teacher opinion on Since that time, PFT has negotiated negotiations,curriculum,staff- five collective bargaining contracts development, school reorganization, and including binding arbitration of has grown in membership from 7% to grievances and agency fee. over 92% of the teachers in the district. In 1985, when Clair Norman PFT's spirit of activism really began stepped down from the union in 1971 when Georgia Squires, Rick presidency, a new phase of PFT's history Owen, and Clair Norman appeared began. Under newly elected president before the Board of Education to ask for John Braito, and with the support of restoration of teacher salary increments chief negotiator Georgia Squires,

In its twenty years of existence, PFT has publishedmorethan 330 issues of its award-winning newsietter....and hasgrown in membership from 7% toover 92%of the teachers in the district.

which had been withheld by the district elementary vice president Shirley Collins because of President Nixon's wage-price (later president), and negotiator Jon freeze. When the Board declined for Harford, two major developments legal reasons, PFT sued the district to occurred. recover back pay for teachers.PFT's First, a program was initiated to membership nearly tripled and for the broaden the union's membership base. first time the Federation took a seat on In the last three years, that base has risen The Petaluma Federation of the Certificated Employee ( :ouncil. from 660/0 to over 92% of the teachers, Teachers first came into being in October By 1973, PFT's membership had with only 21 teachers remaining on 1968 when a group of about fifteen doubled again, entitling the union to a agency fee. Petaluma teachers met at Georgia Squires' second seat on the CEC. The union also Second,negotiationof an house to discuss plans for founding a sponsoreda highlysuccessful educational policy trust agreement began. teachers' union inPetaluma a symposium on the subject of "Economics Under this program, union participation radical idea at the time. in Education." Clair Norman was elected in district affairs has put it on the cutting The goals of the organization were president of the union for what turned edge of educational reform. Under the to provide quality representation for out to he a term of twelve years. Educational Policy Trust Agreement, PFT* local teachers through activism, The following year. PFT held has negotiated a program in the Affective organization, and information. We another very well-attended seminar on Domain, a fully-teacher-involved wanted effective local autonomy. A the "Pros and Cons of the Year-round program of K-12 Staff Development, and teachers' union seemed the answer. School," and the Priority won first place Shared Decision-Making and School- During the ensuing three months, in the Union Teacher Press Association Based Managernent. an organizing committee was set up, a awards. The future looks bright for the constitution written, a dues structure In 1975, PFT, for the first time, Petaluma Federation of Teachers as the established, and officers elected. becamethemajorityteachers' union emers its third decade with jack Finally, on February 6, 1969, the organization in Petaluma. When Schipper at the helm as PFT's eighth charter of the Petaluma Federation of collective bargaining went into effect in president. Teachers, Local 1881, was received from 1976, it was the union which submitted AM' headquarters in Washington, D.C. the petition for recognition as exclusive (Clair Norman, contributor) PFT was officially born. representative and won the collective In its twenty years of existence, bargaining election on February 17, 1977. PFT has publi-,hed more than 330 issues That same year, PM president Clair

7 8 S 0 Diablo Valley Federationof Teachers Torn Lundy and Steve Spencer during unresponsive in the fall of 1972, a one- AFT Local 1902 the "chapter" phase.The chapter day walk-out was called jointly by DVFI' Chartered 1968 operated chiefly out of Lundy's garage and the Association.Despite an and the office equipment consisted of agreement between organizations to one rickety mimeographmachine share the limelight, Kaz was physically A miniskirt scandal, a $38,000 period. When the chapter was granted manhandled by Cl'A-types and prevented maternity leave settlement, landmark for Local 1902, Kaz Mori was at the helm from participating in a press conference. grievance battles, a fight against agency and remained there until 1973. Under Later in the morning, after a march to the fees and numerous journalism awards Mori'scharismaticleadership, District Office by over 1,400 teachers, are some of the major milestones inthe membership swelled. Mod and CFI' President Raoul Teilhet 21+ year history of the Diablo Valley In 1965 the California Legislature seized the bull-horn and excited the Federation of Teachers, Local 1902. had passed the Winton Act, a toothless crowd with the fiery oratory that was the Formed initially as the Central version of collective bargaining. But for union trademark. Contra Co-t- County Chapter of the all the law's weaknesses, it did provide In 1973, the DVFT Grievance Richmond Federation, Local 866, the for proportional representation in meet Committee was ic)rnwd when INFTs chapter prospered at a time when "union" and confer sessions of "Certificated fifth president, Joel Brooks and Dick was equivalent to profanityfor most Employee Councils," the forenmner of Hemann responded to a growing need teachers and was chartered as Local negotiating teams under collective to defend teacher rights. With Hemann 1902 on July 17, 1968, with more than bargaining, MET awoke to find that we and Mori co-chairing the committee, one hundred membersfrom areas of the qualified to have two members on the anyone with a problem called the Union, county thatincluded Pittsburg, San team, enough to put the union's program which now had opened an office in Ramon and Acalanes as well as Mt. on the floor for discussion. Routinely, Pleasant Hill.In 1974, DVFT filed a DVFT proposals were voted down by complaint with the Equal Employment In those formative Opportunity years, the AFT chapter Commission over the quickly gaineda District's refusalto reputation for defense allow female of' teacher rightswhen, employees to use accumulated sick in 1967, Nancy 616 McGlone, aPacifica leave for maternity High (West Pittsburg) purposes. Once English teacher, was WAL againtheunion prevailed and the brought up for P dismissal on charges three named parties "V ftwk, that included failure to Phala Dann, Linda salute the flag and Holman and Sue wearing a miniskirt to Hyde won work.McGlone was settlements varying defended by AFT from $1,900 to$4,000, attorneys Francis and each member in Heisler and Peter theclassaction Frank. and though the received SSWa hearing officer found total of .some $38,000. the District's charges In 1975, Chuck became groundless an d Foster DWI" s sixth McGlone's dismissal DM' members carrying tbe unionbanner in one-day walkout. 1972 yobn Gratt,11 pbotoi unwarranted, the president. In 1974 Board of rustees ignored the findings the Association majority, only to reappear Foster had organized and edited the and fired Nancy anyway. the following yearvirtually award-winning newsletter. the Diablo Leadership in the young I.( wal was unchangedas the Associatitm program. Teacher His column "Pellucidly" was a pnwided by Presidents Ken Edwards, When the Board of Trustees was favorite feature, spotlighting teacher

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 7 9

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 81 activists in Mount Diablo. Membership would win easily a year or two later. M leather shoe-wearing superintendent. now reached an all-time high of nearly the time, this action seemed to be the When the district settled, all of those 500. On September22,1975, the Winton hest course.The Association did do dismissed were rehired or found jobs in Act was replaced hy the Rodda Act, poorly, hut in the challenge election of other districts.Kaz Mori returned as California's public employee collective 1979, Dwr tell 140 votes short of victory. Presidentin1977 and held the bargaining law.In the spring of 1976, In the spring of 1977. the first of organization together during the 11-day and without sufficient analysis of the four "spring rites"mass teacher Association strike. Only one DVFT long-term effects of their action, the dismissals--occurred. More than half of member crossed the picket line during membership voted to withdraw from a the 500 teachers receiving notices were the entire ordeal. bargaining election and let the represented by DM and attorney David In the fall of 1979, the opposition Msociation become the bargaining agent. Rosenfeld.Rosenfekl put on quite a concluded negotiating its second contract The theory was that the Association display in his cross examination of James which included an agency shop clause. would do such a poor job that the Union Slezakthe Porsche-driving/patent Under the direction of Al Zacharin, Les Groohin, Carol Noble, Anna Mantell, Barbara Macnab, Mori, Hemann, Foster and several others, DV17 again fought the Associationin the agency shop election.This time only 40 votes separated the two in a poor voter turnout with the Association prevailing with only a 36% majority of the teachers' unit supporting the issue. In 1980, Barbara Macnab became DVFTs eighth president.A complex legal challenge to the agency fee election was successfully resolved in negotiations spearheaded by Macnab and CFT Field Rep Torn Martin. Over 190 teachers received more than $140 each, more than $26,000 total. In 1983, Dick Hernann became president of Local 1902 and. with the assistance of Carol Noble, Keith Harris, John Gavel!, Sandy Schroeder, Chris Pi- azza, and Macnab, DVFT'sDiablo Teacher won numerous journalism awards, statewide and nationally. In 1986, Keith Harris, DVFT's current president, took office. While NOP membership has dwindled through retirement and for other reasons, some 20 stalwarts still hold faithful to the cause. The spring of 1989 will see a new turn. Mt. Diablo psychologists, a separate bargaining unit of about 15, have voted to affiliate with C11". and will become a chapter under the umbrella of DVVI'.

Wick Hemann,contributor)

Raoul Tel !het and Kaz Mori (John Graven photo)

80 82 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Coast Federationof Employees worked with Judy Ackley, Phillis Basile, AFT Local 1911 new technology. The passage of the Rodda Act in John Buckley, Carol Burke-Fonte, Bar- Chartered 1968 1976 gave impetus to the local's efforts bara Dilworth, and many others to to achieve bargaining representative insure victory. On May 17, 1979, AM of the 572 ballots cast in the Full-time Turbulence, calm, ruggedness and status, and events surrounding thetele- serenity characterize the Pacific Coast vision station and exacerbated by the unit were for AFT. When Phillis Basile, Nancy Rubin- and AFT Local 1911. The Coast Federa- passage of Proposition 13 in 1978 cre- stein, Bob Hancock, Margaret Holtrust, tion of Employees has demonstrated ated a sense of urgency, bringing to a continuous militancy to carry on the head the issue of financiPl priorities Lee Bradley, and John Jensen sat down at the table to begin negotiations,they battle for educational quality, teacher within the district.The chancellor's little realized that it would be well into rights, equitable salaries, and employee "savings" preserved funding for the TV a new year before, afterround-the- working conditions on whatever ground station while slashing teaching pro- clock mediation, the contract would be and in whatever circumstances were grams, starting with increasingteach- settled.The contract ratified in May, necessar, ers' workload, putting some adminis- 1980 provided for a 17 1/2 % raise, but Chartered as the College Teachers trators and non-teaching certificated more important for the future, itin- Guild in August 1968, Coast Federation employees in the classroom, and freez- of Employees today represents full- ing salaries. Sabbaticals previously cluded language preserving the rights for which the union had fought: aca- time faculty and classified staff in the approved were abruptly cancelled. Coast Community College District: When faculty questioned both the demic freedom, classroom management, curriculum control, and due Orange Coast, Golden West, and Coast- figures and the plan, Local 1911 re- line Colleges. From those early years as sponded by forming a United Faculty process. That language was soon to be a first line of defensefor faculty, the Organization of AFT, CTA, and CSEA to union pursued the goal of collective fund the first independent fiscal analy- tested. The significance of the contract was proved when 67 facultymembers bargaining while defending the rights sis of the District.Don Ackley and of individual faculty members and Margaret Holtrust were among those signed a letter expressing their opinion of course content in English composi- speaking out for academic free,:lom, gathering data for the analysis team; the tion telecourses and sent it to transfer due process, and control of the curricu- District fought access to the figures, institutions throughout the state, lum. Half the charter members, includ- and it took legal resort to the public members of the state legislature, and ing Mike Finnegan, Mike Copp, Pierre records act to obtain the data.The chancellor's office.Individual repri- Grimes, and Rich Linder still teach in independent analysis found violation mands were issued the district; Jay Zimmermann, the first of the 50% law, to the faculty, with- secretary of the local, currently serves under-reporting of out due process, for on the executive council. PhillisBasile, KOCE-TV costs to' exercising freedom another charter member, went on to and over-reporting to express publicly become a vice-president of the Califor- of income, and, their opinion. The nia Federation of Teachers and served despite District statements that union filed a griev- the local as president during the fight ance, the repri- for collective bargaining. there was no "re- , mands were with- In 1972, the District opened a PBS serve," an ending drawn, and, even- TV station on the Golden West Campus balance for 1978 of ., tually, so were the and sought to offer classes without $9,000,000. t , .1, telecourses. adequate review by the curriculum Organiza- Ye Despite efforts committee. Peggy Staggs, Phillis Basile, tional difficulties, Phillis Basile, Bill Purkiss, Mike Finnegan, Tina by the Federation Bob Ennis, Barbara Deakin and Pierre primarily unit de- Havins, Judy Ackley at Solidarity Day, 1981 to focus attention Grimes, among others, working through termination hear- on providing quality education to our the Academic Senates and the AFT, ings with the CTA, delayed collective students during tough financial times, presented 74 questions about all asbargaining until 1979. Finally two the District continued to follow its pre- pects of the impact of apublic televi- faculty bargaining units were created, Proposition 13 priorities.The 1982 sion station being run by a community with the full-time unit defined as fac- legislative "hit-list" hit Coast hrrd, as college district, beginning a long struggle ulty teaching 7 1/2 or more units. Kelli predicted by the union, and, by that to protect academic quality whileusing Gardner and Jackie Ruby of the A7F

A HISTORY OF THF =AHFORNIAFEDFRATION Or TFACHERS 8 1

RRT AVIIIIIRLE RR fall, the handwriting was on the wall. During the hot smoggy summer of Marta Dickinson, and Jean Collins Activities rose to a kver pitch of direct 1983, faculty menthers, students and formed a negotiating team with Judy action to prevent layoff's: a candlelight classified staff labored collecting signa- Ackley serving as Chief Negotiator and vigil, a coffin labeled "Education,"a tures at libraries, groceries, and dis- Jeff Dimsdale as a representative from Rolls Royce to syrnholize mistaken pri- cc unt stores in one of the largest recalls the faculty bargaining unit.Again, it orities, and a union-produced video in the history of California, creating a took nearly one year, but the contract titled "People, Programs, and Priori- bond that would not soon be broken. ended up with the best raise ever for ties" were brought to the Trustees. The Wes Brian, !mu Clunk and others gave classified staff, as well as new sections word "recall" was lessons in practical on professional growth, uniforms, serv- heard for the first education to the ice on committees, and participation in time in early 1983, ,i-ahaillaT. public.The reudl evaluation. when, at a packed came up short, but, Now led by Dave Jarman and Scotty Board meeting, thanks to candidate Ross, the union has in recent years Trustees took ac- development work worked in creative areas of collective tion leading di- by Ed Dornan, Bar- bargaining such wellness, employee rectly to layoffs. bara Bullard, Don assistance, professional growth, and On February Ackley and others, retraining.Contract language insures 16, 1983, layoff no- the electicr, in No- that planning and budget processes tices werc issued vember of 1983 re- will have participation by the entire to 100 faculty and sulted ina new college community. We have a healthy Classified negotiating Wain in 1985. the day tbe first 10 administrators, contract uas signed boardmajority, sabbatical program as well as alterna- with other faculty endorsed by the tive methods of professional develop- being displaced and reassigned to cover union. ment such as job shadowing, commu- the gaps.Chuck Canniff of the GT After the election, the Federation nity service organizational activities, chaired a mass meeting February 17 to worked under pressure to guarantee and production of educational materi- advise faculty of their rights.In the that all the faculty and administrators als.In 1987-88, a benefits committee months to follow, Judy Ackky worked would be immediately returned to work. including Sharon Salmans, Dave Jar- with Jim Pierce, Sally Elotho, Bill Purk- On December 16, 1983, the new board man and others, reviewed the entire iss, Robert Smith, Ann Jackson, and majority took action before a packed program, preserving it in face of esca- other affected faculty both to insure auditorium, reinstating all the faculty lating costs. their legal rights and to assure them that who had been laid off in time to return Coast Federation of Employees the union would not rest until they them to classes for the spring semester. remains a vital organization tliat has were reinstated. Larry Rosenzweig rep- By June 1984, following the return of shown its willingness to solve prob- resented the faculty at the most massive the faculty, the district showed a lems in whatever forum is nessessary: administrative hearing, lasting six days, $7.000,000 ending balancefar differ- in the 1960's we took issues to institu- in California community college his- ent from the deficit predicted by the tions, in the 1970's, to the state and the tory, but the legal remedy proved inef- administration in justifying the layoffs. court, and, in the 1980's, to the people. fective, since only eight faculty were re- 1984 turned out to be a big year for The local's philosophy of inclusive instated in the hearing decision. unity when members of the classified issues rather than narrow, exclusive Faculty meanwhile were carrying staff approached local leadership to concerns, there from the beginning, on a political strategy that would lead affiliate.Led by Helen Evers and Pat but refined and amplified during the ultimately to victory.College and Dyer, several members of the CSEA crucible of the layoff years, has created community feelings were strimg at the executive council tore up their mem- a tapestry of leac'ership in our district: February board meeting when David bership cards as unity talks led to a new union, Senate, classified, confidential, Warfield served each of the trustees name for the proposed new local: Coast supervisory, and administrative repre- with a recall notice. Nancy and David's Federation of Employees. Chris Hamil- sentatives work together on a multi- home in Westminster was soon to ton worked closely with the classified plicity of critical issues as we approach became action central for Helen Evers, staff to insure victory in the de-certifica- the 1990s. Dick Marsh, Rick Rowe, Ginny Fere tion dection that followed. Rich Brightman, and the many otl Helen Evers, Gail Deakin, Phil (Judith Ackley, contributor) who worked on the recall. Riddick, Lois Wilkerson, Mark Craig,

8 2 Pajaro ValleyFederation of Teachers

The Pajaro Valley Federation of conditions.Teachers were impressed Teachers, Local 1936, received its charter bythecompetentleadership in 1969, as a Local of the American demonstrated by the staff of AFT and Federation of Teachers. The enfranchisement of the Charter was initiated by Pajaro Valley teachers who felt that AFT could better serve their needs and could more aggressively work to forward the interests of teachers within the District. The Charter members of the Local were impressed with AFT's commitment to democratic ideals and organization, and by its PVPT holds many social activities, sucb as this bowling record of effective tournament with Pat Bendis, Al Nethercutt, and MasHashimoto teacher representation. From a deeply-committed nucleus of 21 CFT, as well as that of our own Local. charter members, the Local grew to be Under collective bargaining an important force in thestruggle for legislation, which became effective in teacher advocacy in the Pajaro Valley. 1975, teachers in California school During the next few years, the districts were to be represented in Union shared the position of representing negotiations by only one organization. the District's teachers with the Pajaro Pajaro Valley teachers initially elected to Valley Education Association (CPA) on be represented by the Pajaro Valley the seven-member Negotiations Council. Education Association. Local 1936 Though the PVFT representatives were a concentrated on building membership minority ontheCouncil,they and maintained a persistent role in the demonstrated capable and effective cause of teacher advocacy.In April, leadership and representation of District 1978, the Union moved to decertify the teachers.In 1973 the Union played a PVEA as bargaining agent for the District's

key leadership role in the successful teachers. The Pajaro Valley Federation four-day strike by Pajaro Valley teachers of Teachers won the hard-fought election, for improved salaries and working and has ably represented PVUSD

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 8 3

BEST COPY AVAILABLE teachers, counselors, librarians, and reduced the extra-curricular workload We are represented on allDistrict nurses-since that time. of classroom teachers. All K-12 teachers committees, and we meet regularly with have a prep period! We have been a the Superintendent prior to meetings of Gains For Teachers Under strong advocate of the preparation period the Governing Board so that we can The Union for all classroom teachers, K-12. We offer our input. The Union has worked The Union has made significant have negotiated a maximum class size of to maintain effective and productive gains for teachers and other certificated 32 (for K-3) and 34 (4-12), and we are relations with the District staff. Indeed, staff of the Pajaro Valley Unified School working to lower it further. the Union is well respected by the District District. We have fought for and won The Union has aggressively administration. consistent salary increases for our defended the rights of teachersin We are proud of our record! teachers. In our first nine years as grievance and unfair labor practice bargaining agent, we have more than proceedings and in the courts, using the (Rudy Pedulla, contributor) doubled the salaries in the District, and excellent legal services available to us our minimum salary is now the highest through our affiliation with AFT and

bit crfae-

Officers of the newly-elected bargaining agent: from left, Marcia Hashimoto, Tburbie Markoe, Rhea DeHart, Heloise Schaser; SuzieJarratt, John Duncan, 1978 in the county.We have nLgotiated cvr. The Union provides its membt. -s compensation for State-mandated (SB with $1,000,000 of professional liability 813) increases in working days and insurancean invaluable benefit indeed. working hours. We have won for teachers The bargaining unit represented a greatly improved fringe benefits by the Union has been increased and package, featuring the cost containment strengthened during the Union's of self-funded health insurance.We stewardship. We have included Adult havenegotiatedthe"Golden Education teachers and Independent Handshake," whereby early retirees (55- Study teachers in the unit. Last year, we 62 years of age) re, 2ive yearly payments, were among the winners in the AFT Full and we have secured fringe benefits for Membership Drive. retirees (55 years of age, with ten years Local 1936 has been prominent on of service in the District) until age 65. the District's Budget. Safety. and In terms of working conditions, the Sabbatical Leave Committees, and we Union has instituted a negotiated calendar were actively involved in establishing involving teacher input, and has greatly the evaluation procedure for teachers.

8 4 8 6

BEST COPY AVAILABLE Santa Rosa JuniorCollege Faculty/AFT O'Brien and Marilyn Milligan, had, as college governance. One or two half- AFT Local 1946 graduate students at UC Berkeley, helped hearted efforts at a collective bargaining Chartered 1969 found the original antiwar movement. election by a few AFT activists failed to Harrigan, the second president, helped collect enough petition cards from a students to start up a black students' sufficient majority of the faculty. Three association, and worked with other AFT candidates supported hy AFT for the members to form a COPE chapter. Board failed to get elected. Given these Under Harrigan's leadership in discouraging circumstances, it was not The Santa Rosa Junior College 1972, the local published itsfirst surprising that AFT's membership Faculty/AFT, Local 1946, occupies one newsletter, Dialogue, edited by Rosalie declined under successive AFT presidents of the most beautiful community college Zucker with assistance by Steve Petty Bernie Sugarman, Pat Broderick, and campuses in the state.It is fronted by a and Bernie Sugarman. The following Everett Traverso, leveling into a kind of park acquired from the year, Petty, together with holding pattern with the presidencies of estate of noted plant third president Bill Harrison Brian O'Brien and Joan Wion. In breeder Luther Burbank. and English instructor Don There were some victories. Campus gardeners today Emblen, co-edited the AFT 1983, the AFT protested the action of the keep faith with this Informer, more an academic college's president who had directed his illustrious predecessor in journal than a newsletter, secretary to remove AFT flyers written the carefully tended which focused on by activist Harvey Hanson to support a flower beds, shrubs, and educational issues and candidate for the Board of Trustees from lawns amongst which provided a forum for faculty the SRJC faculty mailboxes. After the district, sculpture, fountains, and discussion.Emblen soon considerable oppositior. ivy-covered Tudor brick becamesoleeditor. AFT'spositionthatemployee buildings make a picture- ,* Although the literary quality organizations had the right to free and perfect collegiate setting. of the AFT Informer was untncumbered access to the college's excellent, and faculty internal mail system w2s upheld in 1984 Too perfect, perhaps, Joan WIon because its very beauty enjoyedit,publication by a PERB decision. Over the next five may have stood in the way of thefaculty ended in 1974 with a one-time-only years, the district would continue getting itself organized, as current SRJC resurrection in 1983. periodically to take faculty mail from Faculty/AFT President Sarah Gill SRJC facultyrejectedthe faculty mailboxes for various reasons, but each time AFT was able to refer to speculated:"It is so beautiful here that opportunity afforded in 1975 by the it's easy to overlook all the inequities Rodda Act to organize for the PERB decision to call a and get lulled into a false sense of collective bargaining, halt to these actions. After the lottery law was security and complacency." choosing instead a so- That complacency was shattered called "collegial" attempt passed, AFT members worked with the CIA local on June 13, 1989, when the SRJCfaculty, to work out salaries and in two parallel elections, voted AIT in as benefits with the to develop a "wish list" of the bargaining agent in one unit administration and Board faculty prioritiesfor composed of adult education instructors, of Trustees through spending the money, by the and in the other unit gave AFT a plurality committeesofthe ignored administration. After over of votes over a slate of no rep, CTA, and Academic Senate, which $3.4 million had been an independent facultyassociation. The had meet-and-confer rights collected in lottery monies, victthies were two decades in the making. only.Over the next 15 Local 1946 was founded just 20 years,the Board of the AFT asked the district 'inaccounting. years ago on April 10,1969 with 14 Trustees, composed of Dr. Brian O'Brien for Although the local K-12 members, led by activists David Harrigan, long-term local Harvey Hanson, and John Bigby. In its businessmen, professionals, and farmers, school districts in Santa Rosa had reported early years, Local 1946 made a name for developed a powerful, monolithic in the local newspaper how they had itself, despite its small numbers, as a organization whose vote at Board used their share of lottery monies, the staun-:h and militant opponent of the meetings was typically unanimous, and college Board of Trustees refused to give Vietnam war. Two new members, Brian who favored a corporate model for the faculty this information. ii.FT initiated

AHISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 8 5 a suit, still pending, to get an accounting enempkiyment benefits were held. AFT County to secure the additional signatures of the k Awry money ['Rim the district. membership more than quadrupled, needed to qualify. Faculty attitudes were starting to winning state and national awards for Meanwhile, Gill and Melton began change. Attempting to work through the membership growth. a short, intensive campaign with the structure of the Academic Senate, AFT Many new members enrolled as group that would become knmn as activists in the Senate had helped to activists. Wre than 50 menthers came Unit B at the Sonoma state hospital aminge annuli all-college meetings with to work on tasks of the campaign. where many of the instructors worked the administration. Each year the same Outstanding among the members who with developmentally disabled adults. issues were identified and discussed, gave generously of their time, energies, With the help of Unit 13 activists Robyn and then little or nothing done about and spirit: Chuck 13niwn. Peter Broome, Chemin and Emory Norstad, Gill and them by the district for another year. Peggy Fontaine, Alberta 1 tart, Val !licks, Melton learned that these part-time Part-time faculty burgeoned to comprise Carol Hirsch, Steve Hopkins, Diane instructors were treated by the

82% of total faculty. Sabbaticals for full- Joh nson, Ed La Fra nee, administratitm as the sub- time faculty were reduced to once every MerideeLantz,John proletariat of the district. 14 years. Meanwhile, the district grew LeBaron, LorinLeith, receiving even less pay richer, with a pnifit of more than SI Charles Miller, Gino and and fewer benefits than million a year tucked away into a reserve Julie Muzzatti, Sylvia Nance, their Unit A colleagues fund. By the fall of 1987, faculty faith in DaveReagan,Diana on the main campus. the "collegial" process had eroded to the Reeder, Ann Samson, Helen Many promptly joined point where collective bargaining was Sherak, Rich Vera, Dick All'. One of the district an attractive alternative. Local 1946 asked Webster, and Shirley Kotite administrators, acting true national AFT rep Vincent Russell for Young. to his reputation in Unit help. and on February 9, 1988, with a Gillopenedthe B, claimed that Gill and grand total menthership of 32 and a carding campaign at a SRJC Melton had no right to newly elected president, Sarah Gill, the Faculty/AFT meeting on talk with instructors, and SRJC FAculty/Arket out to win collective November 29. 1988. called the police to throw Johnarghy bargaining rights for the faculty. Convinced by All"s success them out. The result of Strong opposition came not just that collective bargaining this action was to cause from the district but also from a group of was going to win, some full-time faculty many more t 'nit 13 instructors to sign up full-time faculty members who had created a stop-AFT movement by calling with AFT. accommodated to the meet-and-defer in Cy Gulassa from the Foot hill-DeAnza Not surprisingly, when the votes process. But the SRJC district for help in forming were counted on June 13. 1989, l'nit B 111111111111r Faculty/AFT found a the independent All Faculty went "8% kir All' representation.In secret weapon in Ron Association. The 1 'nit A, comprised of 11'10 part-time and Melton, the national AFT administration had told AFT full-time instructors working on the main staff mcnther assigned to officers all aking that there campus or at one of more than 50 off- provide strategic and was a total of approximately campus sites, the vote w,-.nt 44% for APT

logistical support for the 1000 faculty members at 32% for AFA, 18% k .A. and '7% for campaign. On Melton's SRJC, which meant that AVE No Representatirm..1 run-off election advice, Gill and would have to collect 501 k it. Unit A between All' and the second- Membership Chair Marty signatures in order to qualify place AFA is scheduled kir October Carpenter attended AFTs for an election.Suddenly 1989. "We look kr ; to another Full Membership the district produced a list victory in the fall." Gi;.. Meanwhile, Program in Santa Cruz, of over 1--400, going back in the SKR: Faculty 'AFT is working hard and mounted a strong Dr. Anrah time for two years and with the instructors of 'nit 13 to develop membership campaign in including a group of 23" their first contract. the fall of 1988. Vice President Richard non-credit part-time adultinstructors Speakes organized phonebanks for whose names had never appeared on (Sarah Oil. contributor) SRJC's part-time faculty members. any of the district's faculty directories. Educational forums on AB1725 and AFT members scrambled to the workshops for part. time faculty phonebanks and drove all over Sonoma

.8 6 s s

BEST COPY AVAILABLE Tamalpais Federation of Teachers

a strong grievance record andbrought reins for a second time, while Hill took AFT Local 1985 Tamalpais salaries to the top among over the job as editor of the CFT's Chartered 1969 North Bay districts. CaliforniaThacher,andJohnson became A new office in Larkspur was rented, the CFT representative to the California Chartered in 1969 with ten printing equipment bought, and the TFT Commission on Teacher Credentialing. members, the Tama lpais Federation of began to pay its president a stipend. In a startling move to force the Teachers (AFT Local 1985) was initially The untimely death of Chief issue of teacher unity, a long-time issue led by Tama lpais High School teacher Negotiator Duane Miller, a social studies in the Tamalpais District, Rogers also Ken Anderson. A year later the reins teacher at Sir Francis Drake High School became president of the CTA chapter, passed to Redwood High School teacher was mourned by all Tamalpaisteachers, holding the presidency of both Russell Hill and theTama lpaisTeacher, and a subsequent scholarship set up the TFT's award-winning newsletter was by the union in his name gifted born. outstanding students yearly with a Following Hill was Norm Rogers, a $500 college grant. Tam librarian, and shortly thereafter Tamalpais teachers, in a "now- Frank Gold, a math teacher at Tam High it's their-turn" mood, voted the TFT took over the TFT presidency. An out in what was to become a pattern "office" (in Gold's hack porch came into over the next few years. being as the union grew insize, Although a non-bargaining organizing became a key strategy, and local, the TFT, now led by Drake building representatives and meetings math teacherJudy Salem, continued sprang up in all three high schools and to work hard for Tam teachers and 1985 election campaign. front: Maillee Rogers, Bob Mautner, Bev Concannon, John Thompson; back: both smaller alternative schools in the some teachers felt that their Russell Hilt Linda Davidson, Dick Praia's. Jim Pierce Southern Marin County district. "representative" had never changed! The first collective bargaining The presidency of the TFT was organizations simultaneously. Although election in the District and also in the again assumed by Frank Gold, followed unity talks had been held during Gold by a term of office held by and Johnson's tenures, CTA objections English teacher Elaine had always scuttled attempts to stop the Nt. ounta ,.. Johnson. During that internecine warfare in the Tam District, c .... period the TFT won back Now, under Rogers' leadership. a joint Tom Teachthe bargaining agent rights, Executive Council was established, a !Strike Kee and established a winning joint newsletter, the7VHSD llnity Most Off Jrecord in the courts as a replaced theTamalpaii Teacher,and I10 Per Cent Michel joint building meetings WPrt! heid in the In hotest Ovtt Pay suit-happy superintendent Wi $. 11.011 pounded away a teacher three high schools rights. "Whether vie were in or Out of from. 59. Declining enrollment bargaining agent status, we never ii triggered the district's first stopped fightillg for teacher rights," tiro . mass layoffsduring comments past-president Gold. Johnson's term, which saw Still very much alive and fighting. 'kJ 40.0, ;., past-president Gold elected despite the fact that the Tamalpais district ITT members Maq Donomn, Roberta Alkitv-Gold, Yvonne to a post as a UT vice- has shrunk to less than half its former Beauchamp, Bob Wylie, Russell Hill and two aides on the picket president. size, the TIT still maintains its Larkspur !Ow in fmnt of Redwood High School, May 1974 Russell Hill was elected office and is still a vocal presence in CFT state under the new CB laws gavethe to a second term as Tvr president affairs. TFT representation of Tarn teachers. A following Johnson and anotherGB 'Our members were never 'fair new contract, the first in the state, was election saw the TFT again on the outside, weather'people," says Elainejohnson. signed, and the presidency passed to Johnson became the first AFTer to hold "They belong to WI' because they're Redw(xxlEnglish teacher Mary Donovan. an officer's post with the MarinCounty coMmitted union workers." Along the way, Tamalpais teachers staged Central Labor Council. (RussellHill, contributor) a successful one-daystrike, established Following Hill, Rogers took the Novato Federation of Teachers AFT Local 1986 organization with triple the membership. the contract has been steadily improved. Under the leadership of President Under the leadership of Presidents P. Chartered 1969 Iris Cloudt, NFT continued to grow in Carey McCarthy and Helen Vargas O'Hara numbers as more teachers became respectively the following noteworthy disillusioned with the Association. When achievements were accomplished. Extra collective bargaining became a reality, duty assignments were slowly bargained NFI was in a good position to "go for the away and some weekly prep time was The Novato Federation of Teachers, gold" and becometl exclusive achieved for elementary teachers. A Local 1986, became the first bargaining bargaining agent. FT bega n permanent sabbatical fund was agent in Novato after receiving 55% of preparations for a chalLage election established, and teachers were to be the teachers' votes on November 4, under the leadership of W. Jerry Larkin paid a negotiated hourly rate or daily 1976. NFT has remained the bargaining and Iris Cloudt, who became the rate for any work over and beyond their agent through two decertification chairperson of the NFT contract professional responsibilities, as well as attempts, each time increasing our margin committee. The Association delayed the for voluntary participation in District- of victory. election, but with the aid of CFT/Arr authorized and established in-service NFT received its charter from AFT staff people, especially Sam Bishop, NFT activities and curriculum work. Salary on October 18, 1969 with increases have also been 23 charter members under negotiated to increase the leadership of Arthur Novato's salary schedule (BilDAtwood. It remained rank in the Bay Area. a small group with token Over the years great representation on the old effort has been made to C.E.C. However, all was develop a more notwellwiththe cooperative attitude in Association chapter. As it relations between the became more centered on District and the Federation. stat.e and counzy Through the grievance organization affairs, many procedure and regular members became meetings between the disturbedthatthe Superintendent and the organization's concerns Federation president, NFT were becoming less has assumed an ever oriented to local teacher increasing role in the needs. Loss of local professional activities of 1979 Negotiations team, fmni left: Jerry Larkin,Tom Martin (C17), control was also a major ,Marty Wells, Cary McCarthy, Russ Drvosch, Andy Frauenhufer Novato teachers.As we issue to many members approach the 1990s, NM" for decision making power was shifting ran a successful classroom teacher foresees even more improvement in the from the local organization to the regional oriented campaign, under the direction professional status of our teachers as we or state organization. When it became of President Helen Vargas in the fall of continue to improve an already excellent clear thatthe Association was 1976. contract. We also look forward to a unresponsive to these concerns, many NFI set out to negotiate the first sharing of decision-making powers in members of the Association left and collective bargaining contract for Novato the District.It is the goal of the current formed an independent group, the after obtaining a great deal of input from officers and building representatives, Classroom Teachers of Novato Novato teachers. Among the highlights under the direction of President W. Jerry (C.T.O.N.), h-aded by Iris Clotzlt.It of the contract was the concept of Lakin, to professionalize teaching and soon became evident, however, that we professional hours of employnwnt. No take an active role in determining our needed the umbrella cover and heip O- time clock was to he employed and future. a national organization and AFT/CFT teachers were left to determine how met those needs. Thus, C.T.O.N. their professional duties would be met. (Jerry I.arkin, contributor) members joined NFT arid became the Over the years that NFT has been guiding force of the newly merged the official voice for Novato teachers,

8 8 LI BEST COPY AVAILABLE Greater Santa Cruz Federation ofTeachers of SCCTA president Donna Cohick, a AFT Local 2030 union participated in Winton Act Councils with CIA. Under the leadership of Ron former Union activist, and Don Maxwell, Chartered 1969 Boortz, Union President from 1970-72, a member of both GSCFT and SCCTA, Won visibility grew. Duty-free lunch unity talks began.After considerable became a major issue.After pressure debate, both executive councils gave from President Boortz and other UMon tentative approval to the plan, A activists, the District conceded and agreed Constitution and By-Laws for the new to follow the law.In 1972, when it United Teachers of Santa Cruz was drawn became difficult to find a new president, up and a date set for teachers to vote. In the late 1960s a group of teachers a committee of teachers from Gault The state CTA was adamantly from Santa Cruz High School, under the Elementary led by John Moore shared opposed to thisidea. The SCCTA leadership of George Smith, Bob Lissner, theresponsibilitiesofUnion Executive Council had to call a meeting Dick Roth and Dan Happer met to representation. one day prior to the election, and after discuss the possibilities of organizing a By 1975 membership had grown to hitter debate decided narrowly against union independent from the CTA. 86. George Smith assumed leadership letting teachers vote on the Coalition On March 16, 1969, 23 teachers met for a second time. Just as the Union was proposal. The Coalition effort had been at Harbor High School to formally showing signs of significant growth the strongly supported by the SCCTA organize and elect officers of the newly Collective Bargaining Act passed. Both president, Donna Cohick, who promptly established GreaterSanta Cruz Federation teacher organizations filed to bt.f:ome resigned; other executive members also of Teachers, affiliated with arr and the the exclusive bargaining unit.Fearing resigned from SCCTA. American Federation of Teachers. The defeat, the Union withdrew from the Amid growing teacher resentment officers elected for the new Local 2030 bargaining election on October 5, 1976, over CTA actions tokillthe unity were:President, George Smith: Vice automatically making the Santa Cruz movement, GSCFT circulated President, Ron Boortz; Secretary, Libby City Teacher's Association (CTA-NEA) decertification cards in spring, 1978. An Harrington; and Treasurer. Bob Lissner. the exclusive representative.Union election date was set for March 18, W80. Union dues were established at S16.80/ membership dropped drastically. The decertification campaign was a year. In 1977, Al Wright became president. monumental effort.At election time The first challenge the Union faced Schools were facing massive financial GSM' had 90 members and SCCTA 250. was the difficulty of distributing problems: inflation was CFT Field Rep- information to teachers. Administrators averaging12-13% resentative Julie were members and officers of CIA during while state COLA's Minard, Donna Cohick the 1960s and generally hostile to the were only 4-6%. Layoff and Don Maxwell, unionization of teachers. Principals hearings were held by GSCFT President refused to allow the placement of union the District. The Union organized an effective literature in teacher mailboxes.Direct offered counseling and election organization confrontation and a challenge to this legal help to all teachers and strategy. The final illegal action resolved the situation. The involved in the layoff vote (155 SCCTA-260 Union gained visibility withits hearings regardless of GSCFT) proved SU:TA publication, "Board Hi-Nes," which membership, in hadlostvaluable toCTA's leaders and credibility. appeared in teachers boxes the morning contrast Donna COhick following each school board meeting! position to help only Still committed to unity, From its beginning the union mainly members. As a result, membership in Gscyr sent a letter to SCCTA offering to was made up of mainly secondary Local 2030 began to grow again. create a coalition. The letter was returned teachers.In an attempt to broaden its Collective bargaining placed the unopened. base the Union began a concerted effort union ata disadvantage, since all Despite Proposition 13, the first to attract elementary teachers. One of bargaining and contractual matters were Union continct (1981/82) produced a the first was Donna Cohick, a new now in the hands of CTA. In an attempt 10% salary increase. The new contract teacher at Gault Elementary School, who to stay in the political arena, the idea of also improved due process of transfer hdped increase Union membership in a coalition between Santa Cruz City and reassignments and grievance the elementary schools. Teachers Association (SCCTA ) and the procedures. Prior to collective bargaining the Union emerged. Under the leadership Th.2 Federation grew rapidly in the

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 8 9 As bargaining early 1980s.As bargaining agent the agent the Union also initiated at Soquel High School and Union brought new vitality to teacher brought new Bay View Elernentaiy School. All leadership.In an effort to promote programs received high marks for success teacher involvement in educational vitality to teacher at the end of the school year and issues, the first (NEST conference was leadership. recommended for expansion to all school held at UCSC in February, 1981.The sites in the fall of 1989. conference was a huge success and The Federation joined other AFT established the Union as a leader of died suddenly in the fall of 1985. The locals of the Monterey Bay Area in teacher professionalism. scholarship is given to a graduating sponsoring a fourth QUEST conference. In 1981 the first major clash between senior each year who intends to pursue Adam Urbanski, president of the the District and the Union occurred over a teaching career. Rochester, New York, AFT local and the involuntary transfer of 15 teachers. After many months of bargaining nationally recognized leader of the school The brought die issue to arbitration. The with the District over the implementation restructuring movement was a key-note ruling supported the Union contention of a 7-period day for secondary schools speaker. that the District had violated the contract. and the demand for a decent salary The Policy Trust Agreements The District rescinded most of settlement, agreement was produced a more cooperative spirit the involuntary transfers. finally reached in February between the District and the Federation. Donna Cohick became 1987.Teachers won a 10% The District agreed to negotiate directly union presidentin1981. salary increase and partial with the Union leadership without an Donna also continued to serve coverage for retiree health attorney; as a result, negotiations were as chief negotiator.Under benefits. The Union agreed to less adversarial and concluded by the Donna'sleadershipas a pilot program for 7-period end of September, 1988. grievance chairperson, many schedules at Harbor High Because of District accounting errors, issues with the District were School and Mission Hill Junior loss of enrollment and escalating health Ic:,..)Iv,!d without lengthy and High School. benefit costs, the year ended with a coqiy arbitration hearings. GSCFT was selected to feeling of fiscaluncertainty. The Salary negotiations were be one of 6 AFT locals collaborative process endured, however, increasingly difficult due to participating in the as the District established a budget Don Maxwell the aftermath of Proposition Educaticit4i Policy Trust committee composed of Board members, 13 and a tightening of state finances. In Agreement sponsored by the California District representatives and Union leaders spite of these difficulties, a three-year School Boards Association and the to balance the budget.Attention then contract was secured for 1981-83. A California Federation of Teadins. A focused on the implementation of second QuEST conference was held in Policy Trust Committee workei in a Proposition 98. February, 1982. plan involving pe..r evaluatri:'1, It has been the underlying principle Kai Blomquist, a long-time union completed by the end of the8iit'3 of the Union to promote better conditions member became president in,1984. By school year.During dte summer 4 for teachers.While this translates to 1985 membership reached 175. 1988, Jeanette Miller and Emily Duffus contract language and economic In 1985, Don Maxwell was elected were selected to serve as the first teacher improvement on one level,italso President for the second time and has consultants/peer evaluators.All new demands a commitmenttothe continued to serve as union leader. teachers were placed with a teacher improvement of schools through the Recognizing the continuing interest in consultant/peer evaluator. The professionalizing of teaching. Members professional issues in Santa Cruz, the evaluation of these teachers was a of Local 2030 remain dedicated to this Cf7 selected the fk :leration as one of 15 collaborative effort by the teacher course. unions to participate in the Commons consultant and the site administrator. Commission study of the teaching Evaluations and a recommendation fts; Won Maxwell, counbutor) profession in California. As part of the rehire went to a Review Board composed emphasis on the teaching profession, of 3 union members and 3 district the Union held a third QuEST conference. members who madethefinal In 1986. the Union established a recommendation to the Superintendent. scholarship in honor of Al Wright, former Three pilot programs for peer president and founding member, who evaluation for tenured teachers were

90 9 2 San Francisco CommunityCollege District Federation of Teachers AFT Local 2121 thereby winning their support and president soon after his death. COPE membership. In1976, when PERB has endorsed many candidates and Chartered 1970 included Innh full-timers and part-timers issues, hut it wasn't until 1988 that, in in the cc 41ective bargaining unit, the conjunction with other faculty,staff Local's organizing efforts paid oft in the groups, the San Francisco Lahor Council, San Francisco'sIA Will 2121 wils must lopsided repri:sentational victory and with the able work of Guy De founded in 1970 after the Adult Diviskm for the CET over the CIA in California by Primo, Edith Wellin, Brix )ks, Dave and City College of San Francisco a vote 01779 to 195. AFT Staff RepLloyd Wall and Rand iSlaughter, COPE separated from the San Fn.ndsco I 'nified /Ammerman tirelessly helped School District ( K-11) and joined together President ,lim Boyd. l.aurie WI" . 4 to become the San Francisco Community Fried Lee, Rodger Scott, Steve C.ollege District.The Adult Division I.evinson and Rosalie Wolf offers non-credit courses at Cnters get out the vote.Although located throughout the city. while City retired, Al Taps( m lent his illege offers transfer credit courses at stature to gain critical support itssingle campus.The District's frinn his colleagues. The local uniqueness led to a uniqueness in the was invigorated by in which part-time and non- enthusiastic volunteers: Tom credit faculty play a much larger r()le Walsh wrote flyers; Sue Light, than in other community college unions. Sam Avila, Richard Esterman. Al Tapson. a vice-president of the Jim King, Jim Doherty, Otto national All and a history instructor at Wendehost, Keith McAllister ,ity College, was appointed to serve as and Frank Cerrato ran Board members run a union gauntlet during 1985 2121's first president.The new local membership drives;Sigi cimiracIfign1 created an Executive Board balanced Isham organized social with CenkTs and College fact, It y events; Martha Dickinson and Ray succeeded in unseating an incumbent including part-timers. Dean Goodman, V'estergard voiced part-timer issues; and electing a challenger to the the Union's first elected president. aided Willie Thompson, Nick Chang, Leo Sykes Governing Board. hy such activists as Ray Berard. Dick and Rita Wang drafted an affirmative By 1985. the Union clearly needed Kidd. Bob Dawson and Scott Amour. action position; Ted Taylor and Don a full-time staff representative and hired managed to lower the teaching load of Liles organized oppositi(m to Prop. 13 Chris Hanzo, who has served ably and and the Brigg'.s initiative. with dedication. Shortly er, the office President Laurie Fried I.ee led the and fi na ncia I records were computerized first bargaining team which was ethnically by Frank Holden and Jim DeNoon, integrated and balanced between College successors to Marge Stern and Leon and Centers' reps including Kim Lee. Lucy, meticulous treasurers of the late Alicia Wang. Rosie Littleton, Tom 1970s and early 1980.s. Velasquez. Terry Alherigi, I.arry Lawson In March 1987, the local won its and Edith Wellin. After protracted election for agency fee. President Anita negotiations. mediation, fact-finding and Martinez, current President Mike liulbert, a sanctioned strike threat, our first eontract and Ex-President Steve Levinson was ratified on December -I, 1979 by nuthilized the membership and great vote of all bargaining unit members. excitement surrounded the strategy and Local 2121 slops Prop 13 layoffs with massive, Even non-members were allowed to planning. The local was assisted by the demonstration Vote as they are to this day. We won wisdom, experience and good humor of non-credit faculty and put them on the binding arbitration, dental cciyerage for AFT Staffperson Mary Valentine. But the same salary schedule as creditfaculty. eligible part-timers, a past practice clause, victory was due to the special effi wts and In 197.1. the la rger local refused a fixed number of sabbaticals and a 12 1/ personal contacts hy devoted members to discuss our offer of merger, so the 2% pay raise. such as Sue Light, Ron Bixler, Marianne Union addressed the unorganized part- In 1980. the local began the Al Durand, Renato Larin, Robert Plotkowski, time faculty with a detailed prop )sal Tapson COPE, honoring the local's first Julia Scholand, Annie Young, Rita Jones,

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BEST COPY AVAILABLE 93 Mary Thurber, James Ward and Alan over $250,000 for pain and suffering, Metzler, Leo Seidlitz). Chet Roaman and Brooks. back pay and interest, Diana Bernstein worked tirelessly to As the Union had grown from Through the efforts of Rodger Scott insure the adoption of a District AIDS about 200 members in 1976 to over 800 and Bob Bezemek, the Local's attorney, education plan which has become a by 1987, there was a need to insure the Union recently won a precedent- national model.Numerous other representation of the "silent majority." A setting Appellate Court decision favoring committees have kept the faculty plan for restructuring the local was our position on unemployment rights informed and have served the local. The developed by Anita Martinez, Rosalie for part-timers Wolf, Patti Averbuck, Alex Alexander during interses- R PRESIDENTS and Pierre Thiry.In April 1988, the sion and summer membership approved the creation of a break.In 1988, Al Tapson, formerly president of Local 61, vice-president of District-wide Representative Assenthly, through the work the national American Federation of Teachers, and... with 20 reps each from City College and of Steve Levinson, our first president, 1970-71. the Centers, elected by separate precincts, Mike Hulbert and plus the 16 Executive Board members, David Wakefield, Dean Goodman, 1971-73 Terry Alberigi, 1973-74 elected at large.Between the semi- twenty English annual menthership meetings, this Department part- Bernie Fosten, 1974-76 Jim Boyd, 1976-78 Assembly makes Union policy. Secretary timers who had Craig Machado has borne the burden of taught more than Lauri Fried Lee, 1978-82 Steve Levinson, 1982-85 recording the business of the additional 60% of a load meetings cheerfully. becauseofa Anka Martinez, 1985-87 Mike Hulbert, 1987-present Over the years, the Union has been composition very active in establishing and defending differential won faculty rights through the grievance tenured, full-timejohs. Elections Committee was ably chaired procedure, arbitration, PERB and In the early 80s, a new gen-eration for over ten years by Lou Lindsey. Union lawsuits. District-wide tenure was of part-timer activists such as Joe Berry, Action, the local's newspaper, was edited established when the Union won full- Cita Cook, Debra Asher and Barbara by a series of energetic members: Dick time positions for Rodger Scott, Julia Shaw revived the Part-Timers' Committee Kidd, John I Iare, Bill Grier, Mike Hulbert, Broccardo and Rita Wang, all part-timers and produced impressive informational Doris Cortez, Joan Rankin and Tom flyers.In 1986, inspired by Doyle. Alan Brooks has provided much

4. Dave Wakefield, the humor as chief cartoonist. committee renamed itself the In nineteen years, a number of Full-Time Jobs Committee, dedicated instructors have contributed and succeeded in convincing their talents and efforts to establish a the Governing board to create vibrant professional organization, Local ten new full-time positions. 2121. Toni Mester, Ellen Wall, Lori Brooks and Chris Shaeffer are (Joe Berry, Mike Hulbert, Laurie Fried Lee, among those currently leading and Rodger Scott, Contributors) the struggle for more rights and full-time jobs. Members have always been involved in social and Semnading tbe attendees of tbe Districa 50tb annivetsary political issues:the Nuclear party during 1985 contract struggle Freeze (Billy Boyd); solidarity who had exceeded the. 600/o law by with the teachers' union in El Salvador, teaching in both divisions. District-wide including the annual fund raising tenure was reaffirmed in the eleven year COSANDES run (Tomi Cunningham, legal struggle and final Court of Appeals Hilda Ayala, Jim McKinney and Renato victory for disabled welding instructor, Larin); the Anti-Apartheid Boycott of Peter Gianopoulus, who was awarded South Africa (Willie Thompson, Charlie

9 9 4

BEST COPY AVAILARLF Coachella Valley Federationof Teachers

The Coachella Valley Federation of Ken Eastman, a teacher at Coachella AFT Local 2247 Teachers, Local 2247. was chartered in Valley High School was asked to join. Chartered 1972 January of 1972.However, our origin He readily agreed. goes back ';everal years. when founder After the Palm Springs Desert and organizer Stan Kay and others were Democratic Club meeting, Tell het agreed politically active for many years in the to attend an AFT organizing meeting the Coachella Valley. following week. With Teilhet's assistance Palm Springs Desert Democratic we organized the Coachella Valley Club president Stan Kay, a Coachella Federation of Teachers with about 20 Valley High School teacher, was also a members from the three school districts, member of the Mexican-American Palm Springs, Desert Sands and Coachella Political Association, served on the Valley High School. executive board of the Palm Springs Some of the charter members were: NAACP and was chairman of the CTA's Ken Krall, Raul Loya, Ray Rodriguez, Political Action Committee. June Pausch, Stan Kay, Ken Eastman, For years, many of us experienced Sam Smith, Johanna Herz, Bill Casper the CTA's lack of expertise and and Larry Hoffman. The new Local grew commitment in representing teachers, to 25-30 members throughout the particularly in job-related matters. We Coachella Valley. saw too many teachers intimidated, Bill Casper, a Coachella Valley High harassed and several probationary School speech teacher, was our first teachers dimissed on frivolous charges. president. We elected him because of In addition, most teachers were so afraid his charisma, popularity and keen that they literally closed their classroom intelligence. We knew that to survive doors on their colleagues. and grow, we needed Bill's leadership.

And there were times when we mac and k situations in the comifl rzafamily lost their occasion, sponsoring 11441110nt in their dire and

When a teacher sought help, advice Subsequently the school districts and representation from the crA staff formed their individual locals. The only representative, often he or she was told eventual survivor was the Coachella that there was nothing that could be Valley Federation of Teachers, done. Many teachers either resigned or representing ale Clachella Valley Unified ate the harassment and humiliation of School District. the administrators. In 1975 Local 2247, still a fledgling In October of 1971, the Palm Springs teachers union, sued the Coachella Valley Democratic Club invited Raoul Teilhet, Unified School District over inequitable state president of the California fringe benefits. The CFI' law firm won Federation of Teachers, asits guest the case at the local level, but lost it in the speaker. Stan Kay asked Raul Loya, Ray Appeals Court. The significance here Rodriguez and several others from MAPA was that we raised vitalissues and to attend the meeting, confer with Teilhet fought for them. and help organize an AFT local. Then During the years of survival, Local

I 0I Local officers in 1982-83, from kJ?: Mariliynn Kra II, Servita Loya, Ken Kra 11, Sally Hamilton, and Kim Bickford

2247 CVFT found its place as a teacher As an addendum may we cite a few advocate. As the CTA chapter lost sight additional specific benefits.Namely, of the individual, the AFT Local filled the from its inception, our Local provided gap.We helped individual teachers important services. We always retained whose personal needs were being a local lawyer whom any of our members neglected and soon CTA defections could call upon for a free consultat:on swelled and 2247 became the dominant and reduced fees on any civil matter. Of teacher advocate in the district. course, on school-related matters we The CVITT ran decertification consistently utilized the CFT's law firm. elections against the CTA chapter in We always have had a monthly 1974, 1981 and finally in 1984 became newsletter, numerous socials including the bargaining agent representing over wine and cheese gatherings, house 400 teachers. parties and made the Union an ambience Since then, the Coachella Valley of friendliness. We also over the years Federation of Teachers, under the able presented outstanding AFT state and leadership of Kenneth Kral!, has achieved national speakers. giant strides in salary benefits for the And there were times when we members of the bargaining unit. Local reached out to severe and tragic situations 2247 has been active at the state level of in the community itself, such as when the teachers union, too. Ken Krall has the Garza family lost their home in a fire. served as a CFT vice president for the We rose to the occasion, sponsoring past five years and has served on the emergency dance benefits to help them state legal committee. And in 1982, Sally in their dire and desperate circumstance. Hamilton was honored by her selection Simply said, in all, we spearheaded to be a member of the CFT Women in Teacher Advocacy in the Coachella Education Committee. Valley, inspired by and based on both The going has not always been need and integrity.May that devout smooth but by keeping a clear-cut goal essence glow as a continuum for those of accepting, recognizing, representing who follow. and defending every teacher, the Union has prevailed. This is the message Local (Stan Kay, contributor) 2247 wants every young and struggling Local to hear.

9 4

BEST COPYAVAILABLE Los Rios College Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 2279 The Los Rios College Federation of later, LRCM' increased its take to 601 Teachers, (LRCFT) Local 2279, AFT. AFL/ with only 509 going to the other side. Chartered 1972 CIO began in a way similar to that of Then, with the help of AFT bargaining most other AFT locals in California:a expert, Vinnie Russell, the local signed few teachers, unhappy because of the itsfirst three-year contract with the lack of leadership from the local NEA District. affiliate, decided to form a real teachers' Scarcel/ was the ink dry when, union. A petition bearing some 45 during the joint presidency of Don signiaturesall from the American River McHugh (SCC) and Gary Strauss (SCC), College (ARC) campus of the District LRCFT had to face another challenge: a was filed with AFT and on April 1, 1972, decertification attempt by the Association. the new local was chartered, its official By this time, however, the Federation's name having heen suggested by Raoul reputation had been so solidly established Teilhet, then president of the California thatitbeat back the decertificatkm Federation of Teachers, attempt by a margin of 542 to 445 with Until the following September the only 36 "no rep" votes. More teachers local operated under the acting joined. presidency of Les Lehr, ARC music Sue Noland ( ARC, 1981-1983) and department. Three one-year wrms Jonathan Brosin (SCC, 1983-1985) followed, bringing into the office Byron followed as local presidents during which Patterson, David Gamst and Bob Dasch, time the local continued to grow and to all of ARC. These were the "pre-collective become more sophisticated in the art of bargaining" years, during which the new negotiations,grievances,com- local laid its foundation. The local took munications, and in teacher on grievances, spoke out at Board of representation generally, including the Trustee meetings, published a newsletter, organizing of a full scale demonstration and sent delegates to Central Labor on the steps of the state capitol on the Council meetings. The local acquired a matter of funding for the community reputation for being aggressively and colleges.In 1984, rumblings from the unabashedly pro-teacher. Membership CTA did not materialim into a full-blown increased and spread to the other challenge because the opposition was campuses of the District. unable to gather enough signatures to In 1975 Paul Oehler, thefirst force an election. president from Sacramento City College, Pat Kirklin, (SCC, 1985-1987) the was elected, and the local established hcal's chief negotiator for some years two-year terms for the presidency. This previously, had to solve a severe financial year tlw legislature approved collective deficit in addition to the normal union bargaining for teachers.For the next prolAems such as the restructuring of the two years, before the new law was ntecutive board.This was further actually implemented,ulcyrleaders complicated by the departure of the prepared diligently for the election battle. local's executive secretary, Larkie New president Ken Humphreys Gildersleeve. Without the funds to hire (SCC) had the honor in 1977 of leading a new executive secretary, Kirklin took the underdog union into the long awaited, on the job himself along with the first-ever collective bargaining election. responsibilities of the presidency. Assisted greatly by AFT organizer Kelli When the local's finances improved Gardiner, LRCFT won the el,xtion, but enough to hire a new staff person, it was only after a nm-off. In the initial election decided that the size of the local and the on October 5, 1977, LRCM' garnered 514 complexity of the job would require votes to 494 for the oposition, with 62 upgrading the position. After a careful voting "no rep." In the run-off six weeks search and hours of interviewing, Sheryl

A HISTORY OF THE CAUFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 9 5 Pettitt was hired as the local'sfirst wereannounced,thedistrict Bordan, Julie Minard and others from executive director. reconsidered the main issues and the CFT staff in trouncing the CTA forces LRCFT was becoming a full-service agreement was reached. The contract 632 to 313. A new contract was then local. The grievance system was further contained a pay increase provision that negotiated under the direction of co- refined under the direction of Ken Lynch, provided for increases to be based directly chairs Pat Kirklin and Ken Lynch. The who was able to resolve most grievances on incoming state funds as they were LRCFT "trombone clause" continued in at the campus or district levels. received. Affectionately termed the the new agreement, and by the end of But quiet times were not to last. "trombone clause," salary adjustments 1988, with the contract in effect for Contract negotiations stalled and, for the were made four times in the first year. eighteen months, faculty pay gains had first time in the history of the district, In the final months of Kirklin's averaged nearly one percent per month. faculty action had to go beyond the presidency, Richard Hemann was hired In January of 1989 Crowley became bargaining table. A Job Action committee as executive director. the first president to serve a second to deal with the situation was formed In 1987 Mike Crowley became the term. As Local 2279 heads into another with Bill Mahan appointed chairman. first president to be elected from negotiations period, the 18-year-old local The local and the faculty senates agreed Consumnes River College.The CTA has definitely come of age and continues to boycott committee meetings. Faculty called for a decertification election that to exert leadership in state and local members picketed all three campuses spring. This time they had been able to teacher affairs. and the district office. Finally a vote of get enough valid signatures by canvassing no confidence was taken against the the part-timers. Crowley and Hemann (Byron Patterson, contributor) :hancellor.Before the election results were assisted by Tom Martin, Larry

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LRCFT Executive Board, from left: Eula Dean, Tess Enroth, Pat la..khn, Carolyn Jeu:tt, Jim Comins, Bob Dasch. Mike Crowley, Dick Hemann, Chris lwata, Tom English, Lois Seward, Dick Gillies, Jonathan Brosin, J:inia Wager, Fred Milstein (several not prewnt

BEST COPY AVAILABLE Poway Federationof Teachers AFT Local 2357 you conduct your activities in an bargaining, and enforcement of the honest, open and approved fashion, Special Education requirements. Chartered 1972 Ishall be forced to take appropriate Although educational issues had priority, disciplinary and/or dismissal action against you. PFT also supported the social issues of the day such as the grape boycott and

I also suggest that you not waste the J.P. Stevens strike. everyone's time by making any Board By the time of the Rodda Act of presentations. The Board andIsee 1976, PFT was a credible organization. eye to eye in this matter, and the Anna Wilson was our president during this meet and confer time and continued April 27,1973 to be active throughout the first very arduous negotiations. Anna continues Mr. Ted Roybal 743 Balboa Court tobeactive today. San Diego,California 92109 Wanda Faust was president when PM' %..on the first collective bargaining Dear Mr.Roybal: election on December 6, 1976. We had Your recentletter is insolent and presumptious. Since you are, less than 25% of the teachers as members apparently, too dense to grasp the situation,let mestate some but we won because we were willing to plain facts: 1. I am the Superintendent;you are a teacher. confront the administration with the you carry them cut-not vice versa. 2. I give the directives; issues.Faust was also an active vice- The letteris belnq placed in your personnelfile toillustrate the president of the California Federation of tactics cf harassment which you practice. Any similar letters will a:so be placed in yourfile; however, ' shall not dignify them with Teachers for over 10 years, CFT's first a reply. chairperson of the Women in Education Committee in 1971, chair of the Teacher Fred C;. Craig Superintendent Legal Defense Fund and received the CFT Teacher Rights Award. vwe In these early years of bargaining, cc: Personnel when we spent hundreds of hours at the bargaining table, Twin Peaks School, with almost 100% membership, was a only way we intend to modify our lifesaver.Thanks to Tony Bechtold, As You can tell, our first years as an stand is to have a court order us to do Don Raczka, and many others, any organization werebit stormy, We had so. In my opinion, the legal projects that needed to be done could be gobbkdegook cited by Holden is started two years before this incident sent to Twin Peaks. with six members. Ted Roybal as our pure hogwash. If not, hring on your high-powered legal staff: we are Our first bargaining team was made first president and Wanda Faust as our quite prepared to defend our position up of Wanda Faust, chief negotiator, vice-president.Many of us had been in court.This determination has Don Raczka, Warren Abraham, Jim upset with the way teachers were treated been amply denumstrated in the Barter, Kim Modell and Tom Bankhead. three lawsuits brought by Mr. Daniel in Pc iway, but Ted was the real organizer. This represented a coalition of members isno 'nder his leadership we won the right to Nasman. who, significantly, hmger withus. of both teacher organizations and one use mailboxes and began our growth as non-affiliated teacher. Joanne Peterson, an organiz.ation. We continued to "waste everyone's time" Bill Chiment, Dan White, Kevin Dorward, Wanda Faust also encountered and the organization grew. Supt. Craig Bob Bjorkquist and Jim Schanhack were Superintendent Craig's diplomatic ways. was later returned to the classroomby added for the second set of negotiations. as is demonstrated by the last paragraphs the Board of Educationand "significantly, Wanda. Don, Kim and Jim continued. of 3-6-73 and 4-2-73 letters to Wanda: is no longer with us." he teachers and many community PVTorganized around such issues members were also supportive when a Wanda. your activities have reached as 6th grade caMp, Supt. Craig'ssalary billboardwassponsored to demonstrate theENtint where they are considerably 1110re than a nuisance.I lencetOrth. freeze, school board elections.StullAct our plight in October 1976, "WELCOME I intend to document each Violation evaluations. Title IX enforcement, TO POWAY, HOME OF THE LOWEST of districi policy or procedure. I 'nless v; mchers, year-round schools, collective PAID TEACHERS of all 81 comparable

A HISTORY OF 'DIE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS' 9 7 California districts," and when we had a PFT president from 1985-87, participated This sounds like a success story of march down Poway Road September 27, on five bargaining teams, negotiated the presidents, but it has been the success 1979. Monthly Forum with the superintendent story of more than these people Essie Ricketson has made many and institutedthe annual training everyone from the secretaries, Lillian contributions through the years. She has workshop for building representatives. Hecht and Jenny Humphrey Savage, to been a County Labor Council Delegate, Also during Jim's term, forty-three the CFT staff and leadership, and most of CLUW president, and CFT Women in teachers were properly placed on the ali to the members and supporters, past Education Committee member, as well salary schedule and received back pay, and present. as organizer of two art auctions, our Title and CFT awarded Poway special We continue to negotiate and to IX expert and great writer of flyers. Essie recognition for membership growth. The fight the battles for teachers that Ted has received the CFT Teacher Rights membership award was for the highest began. Award and the CFT Women in Education membership percentage in the state for Most recent negotiating team membeN Award. a union that has voluntary membership. were Bill Crawford, chief nego-tiator, Our first full-time president in 1981 Dick Bosworth, Brigitte was Don Raczka, a member of many Haley, Eunice negotiating learns, organizer of Heidiman, Rick Mer- negotiation activities, and a COPE award to'Poway curio, Tom Salston, and recipient. Don fought the battle against avedonte Jim Shadoan. PFT has 'THELOWEST teacher layoffs when there was a $2.4 HOWOF made progress in the PAMTEACHERSdistricts million error and Poway received 0% California area of salaty and fringe comparable 6 citizens from the state, and mad:, another effort gel concsawd teachers Coamitteo of 748 7824 benefits; no longer are to achieve unity in forming the United too 0)foraeonaii we 81st out of the 81 Educators of Poway. UEP was elected comparable districts in the collective bargaining agent but CTA's California! We are also constitution prohibited this united teacher incorporating more organization.Currently Don's mentor educational issues into project helps set standards throughout our negotiations and the country. This Professional Assistance agreements as we Program, with a union majority on the Wanda Faust and Torn Bankbead addtess Powayteacben at continue to defend governance committee, provides full- demonstration in front of billboardpaid for bytrrand Poway teacher rights through time teacher consultants to induct and Faculty Association to illustrate district teaches' plight in 1976. grievances and unfair evaluate all new teachers. Our currentpresident,Bill labor practices when necessary. By the 1983-84 school year, Crawford, has continued our tradition of Many present and past HT activists membership had grown to 690/o, a 23% vigorously defending teachers' rights. are in leadership positions in the County increase over the last three years of Bill In addition, a number of seeds planted and State Departments of Education as Chiment and Don Raczka's terms as in past years have come to flower The well as mentor teachers, principals and president. Mentor Teacher project of Don Raczka vice-principals. Returning as a full-time president, has become a union-management There were six members when we Bill Chiment, another seasoned partnership to support and evaluate first started in 1971. Today we have twenty negotiator and CFT vice-president, year teachers.Hourly teachers have schools with about 75% membership. expanded the professional role of been placed on the uniform salary With membership of more than 750 teachers in our district by developing the schedule, and the district has agreed to teachers, PFT is one of the 100 largest mentor teacher program with a teacher- provide after-school child ca re for K-12 locals In the American elected selection committee. He also teachers' children.AFT President Al Federation of Teachers (AFT)! got Poway teachers involved in the Shanker was invited by the district to educational reform movement through address an all-teacher meeting.Most (Wanda Faust, contributor) the Forum on the Teaching Profession, hopefully, we are working with the the California legislature's Blue Ribbon district toward a mature, non-adversarial Commission. A scholarship program for bargaining model. Thus far have we high school students was also expanded. come from the days of "I am the Jim Dyer, a CFT vice-president and Superintendent, you are a teacher."

9 8

BEST COPY AVAILABLE Turlock American Federationof Teachers Jim Biever agreed to accept the AFT Local 2424 Turlock teachers first affiliated with AFT-CFT in 1972, through a Modesto presidency. Chartered 1973 local. In 1973 the group was chartered Beginning in 1076,all three as the Turlock American Federationof organizations began campaigning to Teachers #2424. Charter members become the bargaining agent.There included: Juan Adrover, Denis were differences among the organizations Chamberlain, Harvey Litvack, John Smith, as to whether the bargaining agentshould James Biever, Robert Edwards, George be for both the elementary and high Owings, Edward Brault, Mary K. Holden, school districts or represent them and Mary Jean Parton. Ed Brault became separately. The Educational Employees

Salaries were of great importance, but it was(mem! agreed that we would never accept a raise as afrodec giving up teacher rightsand piottxtion.

our first president, DenisChamberlain Relations Board held a hearing in 1977 vice-president, Mary K. Holden, treasurer, to determine the outcome. The EERB, and Bob Edwards, secretary. Ed Brault later tu be renamed PERB, ruled that the heightened interest in the organization districts were separate and that each through his writing of TAFT's newsletter: should have a bargaining agent. "The Roaring Mouse." TAFI' held a decided disadvantage: Membership increased to 32. Denis of 117 teachers in the high school district, Chamberlain became president in 1974. TAFT had only 11 members while PEG We affiliated with the Central Labor had 30, and TIFA had 66 members. Jim Council at that time and Jim Biever was Biever, as president was given help and appointed delegate. The calm of "meet advice from past presidents Ed Brault, and confer" negotiations wls shattered Denis Chamberlain, and Dan Larson. in 1976 with the passage of the collective The major issues in the election were bargaining act and CTA's decision to independence of local action, difference eliminate AFT locals rather than form in the cost of dues, forced agency shop coalitions with them.Dual members fees, keeping the membership informed, were urged by CTA to resignfrom AFT- and secrecy of action by the cm CFT-TAFT. Three organizations: the leadership. Professional Educator Group (PEG). The break came shortly before the TAFT, and TTA (Turlock Teachers election when the PEG leadership Association-CTA ) then competed to decided to ask its membership to support become the bargaining agent. TAFT in the election at the high school. In 1975, Denis Chamberlain turned This coalition of 11 TAFT members, 30 the leadership over to Dan Larson. At PEG members, and a considerable this point the future looked bleak for the number of TTA members who crossed fledgling organization. Membersl lip had over, produced a TAFT election victory dropped sharply as a result of CTA's of 59 to 45. campaign. There was a crisis of TAFT grew quickly. Negotiations leadership. No One wished to become with the district were long and hard president. After a considerable search, during the early years.TAFT's first

AHISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEQERATION OF TEACHERS 9 9 1 01 priority was to negotiate a contract that gradually accepted the necessity of field representative Sheryl Pettitt. Sheryl would provide teacher protection. negotiations. met with members and informed them Salaries were of great importance, but it Under the leadership of Ron Scheer of the benefits of AFT representation. was generally agreed that we would the teachers now have representation After several meetings, the decision was never accept a raise as a tradeoff for on district committees and have voting made to decertify from C.S.E.A. giving up teacher rights and protection. advantages on the district budget The Office Technical and Business The district was determined not to committee, lottery committee, health Services Unit was decertified from negotiate at all.Unfair labor practices benefits committee, and curriculum C.S.E.A. in September, 1986, following were filed against the high school which council (a faculty senate). months of campaigning and a somewhat resulted in the district being given some The current elected officers: Ron bitter election. 39 citations for unfair labor practices. Scheer, president, Megan Boyle, vice- The negotiating team of Ardyce From this time forward the district did president, Dale Pollard, secretary, and Reisenauer, Linda Sutton, Mary Venema rwgotiate although unwillingly. Denis Nancy Main, treasurer, along with the and crr Representative Bill Callahan Chamberlain acted as chief negotiator rest of the members of TAFT are pro- have made significant improvements in for 6 years to be followed by Dan Larson. active and play important roles in the the contract during the past three years, In 1984 elections for the presidency planning and development of their including longevity pay, vacation of TAFT were hotly contested.After school, its curriculum, climate, budgets increases and reclassifications for more eight years as president and two previous and negotiations. than half of the unit members. challenges, Jim Biever was defeated by George King. George King served one History ef TC-AFT 2424, Classified (Ron Scheer, contributor) year and was then promoted to principal Unit of TAFT of Rose lawn Continuation High School. TC-AFT represents the Office Eric Julien, vice-president, Al Berg, Technical Business Services Unit which treasurer. and Ken Donaldson, secretary consistsofclericalemployees, & benefits chairperson, also turned over instructionalaides and campus their positions at about the same time supervisors of Turlock High School and after many years of service. Ron Scheer Roselawn Continuation High School and ran unopposed for the presidency in the Turlock Adult School.

Unfair labor practiceswere in recent years animosity has filed against hi gh school declinedasthe district has which resulted in the districtgradually accepted the being givensome39 necessity of citations kw unfair labor practices.

1985 and continues to serve in that In January, 1986 members of the capacity. Dan Larson continues to serve classified unit, dissatisfied with the on the negotiations committee. Jesse represenNt ion of C.S.E.A., discussed the Cone continues his many years as possibility of changing their union grievance chairman. Jim Biever continues affiliation. as delegate to the Central Labor Council After meeting with TAFT president and was elected Secretary-Treasurer in Ron Scheer, certificated menbers voted 1987. and approved the addition of a classified TAFT remains strong and has a unit to their organization. membership of 73.In recent years Mary Venema, Administrative animosity has declined as the district has Secretaly, requested a meeting with AFT

go 102 Ocean ViewFederation of Teacher

OVFT began under the presidency believe we had won a major victd AFT Local 3174 of Bettye (Jeffris) Berg with seven In April 1978, OVFT Ma Chartered 1973 members in the 1971-72 yeor as a chapter Peterson was appointed as a of the Oxnard Federation of Teachers. president of the UT. She has conti This caused the creation of a Certificated to serve to the present. We con Employees Council for "meet and confer" publishing the Ocean Vteupoin, purposes under the Winton Act.OM only newsletter in the district N had one rep on the first CEC regularly raises local issues. In the 1973-74 year, we were Westbrook and Marilyn Peterso: chartered with ten members. Our first active in the Cff's Non-Ba rgaining A

We felt enormousexhilaration as we cast OVFT's one vote to join thesmaller locals in outvoting San Francisco and UTIA on aroll call vote.

CFT convention. inFresno, was an Committee. exciting introduction to the politics of We have waged three hotly con the C17 and AFT. We watched as Dave and bitterly fought decertific Se !den and Al Shanker positioned elections since 1977. We have themselves in their run for President. come as close as we did thatfirst We felt enormous exhilaration as we cast OVFT's one vote to join the smaller locals in outvoting San Francisco and UTLA on a roll call vote. During the CEC years, OVFT memberSusan (Capraro) Westbrook was elected chief negotiator. At our peak, just before thefirst CB election, we had three of the nine CEC bers.In these years, we !..xl the budget through the help of the CFI' workshops.We publishedflyersand Lynn Miller, Marilyn Peterson, Frank Samuels, c.19 newsletters with infmmation gleaned from the budget. We used only However, a few of us continu recycled computer paperto prove we unyielding commitment to the id didn't waste members' dues money. the AFT and refuse to give up ou OVII* was the first organization to take the position that the needs of limited- (MarilynPeterson, contributor) English speaking students were not being met in our District. In February 1977, we lost the first collective bargaining election. Sc mwhow, in the atmosphere of the day, Raoul Teilhet's consolation message made us

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATIONQF TEACHERS 103 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Oh lone College Federation of Teachers AFT Local 3200 In late1973, twenty-five of the noted. We would like to acknowledge Chartered 1973 sixty-one full-time instructors became Frank Kahl who organized us and started charter members of the new AFT Local our local; Carolyn Strickler who has rep- 3200 at Oh lone College in Fremont. The resented us list of officers is as follows:President. for several Carolyn St rkkler; Vice-President, Barton years as Stillman; Secretary, Larry Weiner; President of Treasurer and Founding Father, Frank OFT;Bart Kahl. Major issues faced by the union Stillman who included: hasspent 1) Weekly student contact hours many hours (alias class size) of his time 2) Selection of a new president for making sure the college Camlyn Strickler that due 3) Consideration of changing toa pm1.2ss he semester system followed in cases involving faculty 4) Division vs. Department org- members here at the college; and Larry anizational setup Weiner who 5) Salary and fringe benefits has rep- 6) 50% Law resented us 7) Ratio of full to part-time faculty on both our Our purpose as a professional independent advocacy organization was (and is) to organization represent and college faculty with wide com- o m ni o n mittees. problems, We kx)k Ban Stillinan concerns, upon our cur- and interests rentlocalindependentfaculty in bettering organization and recall that before itwas education. created, we had a sizeable CFT'APT We instruc- trit chapter on campus. In order to gain the tors are not membership of the CTA and CM'groups only the lany Weiner we informally agreed to organize an wkirkers, but independent group. called 1 'FO. We also the experimentalists and the have kept a small CIT.AFT locat. Ohlone theoreticians in the field of education. Federation of Teachers, Local 3200 and We are may someday expand its base. therefore For now, the United Faculty oi determined Ohlone seems to be the most workable not to be left arrangement for the majority of us. A Out of the few will maintain membership in FACCC, decision- AFT, and UFO, making process. ((:arolyn Sh ickler, c(mtributor) In the sixteen years Frank Kah. of our existence, certain people have contributed significantly to our local and their efforts should be

102 104 BEST COPYAVAILABLE Jefferson ElementaryFederation of Teachers AFT Local 3267 conferred, and then it did as it pleased. principals were also aA members, and We called for Collective Bargaining in had been allowed to remain on the job Chartered 1975 our flyers; CTA retorted that bargaining (!) and so the principals reminded us wasfor plumbers!Some teachers strikers thatif we didn'tlet these remembered that plumbers were making maintenance guys and electricians and more money than teachers; we got afew garbage men through the picket-lines, new members. then the school would have to close CTA then decided that if the Board down, which was against the principal Let's admit that, in 1975, we didn't would not admire it, then it must he fellow-members' best interests, so, of know what we were doing. tnadeto do so. Thus, in 1971 we found course, we were directed to let the We became an official Local one oursdves On Strike! We were told that puzzled workers cross the picket-lines. afternoon that year in our President John this was the first CTA-led strike; if not, it That is the kind of thing that psychiatrists Chronis' favorite Greek restaurant call neumtic. in Daly City,We were just a The strike lasted five chapter of the successful High THE GOOD OLD DAYS weeks, even though the only School District AFT then (since issue, after the first day, was hilagine if rou will, reader,those days when the whether or not we could get at least 1960) and we planned to district was truly paternal! stay that way. That's what we When the District was benevolent! our jobs hack. Raoul came up toldRaoulTeilhetthat Imagine a time when the JCTA was synonyrnous and walked the line and spoke afternoonhe had come up to with the district! to teachers, over and over, and When your princiimi was a member of the JGTA, as when we finally slunk back in, grant us a Local Charter.We tie encouraged you to join it. you were yourself. we got a few more members. then voted against the charter. Your Superintendent was a member. Raoul then, unmoved by this When Presidency in the ICTA was regarded as a When collective "democratic confusion," gave us training-ground for a principalship or even, as it bargaining became the law, might turn out, a Superintendency. Chronis couldn't get enough our charter. When, if you intended to acquire units, in order to Long before this, our District cards signed for us to be on the advance on the salary schedule, you got them ballot.CTA claimed, by this had been part of a CTA Golden approved by a JCTA committee. When, if you Age. The Superintendent had deserved a sabbatical, your request was approved by time, to have imvntedcollective been a CTA President; so had a JCTA. bargaining, along with the number of principals. All When teachers considered themselves fortunate to airplane and the game of be in the JSD, where the board, the administration adminktratorswere CTA baseball. John decided that he and the teachers worked together, when an idea like had done his part for the Union members. We had little to do academicfreedomwas a significant issue, and - less except be official AFL-CIO important - when teachers of the JSD were paid (as he had!) and we elected 1 members, criticize everyone, and more than elsewhere. new officers, Jim Herndon, get our names put up on faculty- Oh, there were minor, rebellious attempts, in public Arpine Tateosian , Carol Burgoa meetings, to change or resist Hoard JCTA policy, hut room bulletin boards for not and David Wright.Herndon thesewereeasily squelched by Principals, acting as served as front-man, Tateosian being CM members. Bob Lasley, Parliamentarians. j..hn Ciironis, Linda Peebles, and It was a littleGolden Age, then. did all the real work so that Vern Mara kept the AFT going all It was also a time when jobs were plentiful he'd be able to remember what this time. None of us had much everywhere. was going on, Wright and Burgoa began to organize. The hope for change; we just wanted from "A Concise Ifistoly of the J.S.D., or The intelligent to be part of the Union, and we Teacher's Guide to the Decertification Hection, Part 1: A Board did not admire the aA were. Service of the Historical Division, Local 3267, AET (aka any more than it had before; it Jim Herndon} Times d'J change, though. filed out-of-scope charges on A new school board was elected everything in the cant,ed aA which was apparently tired of contract-proposal.CTA filed the uppity CTA. Itfired the certainly seemed like it.But we were counter-charges, and PERB argued about Superinvmdent. Instead of making the called upon togetLabor Council it for some years, aA signed a hasty, next CTA president a principal, itfired sanctkms for the strike, so that the regres.sive contract. him too! Somewhere in here, the Winton schools could he shut down. We did it, That was when things got Act was invented. The Board met and but then it was remembered that the interesting, for right there in black and white was a deal that teachers would all Don Lowry and Rich Mono la joined our in court, since CTA accused Martin and spend a week in June afterschool was team and we campaigned three days Herndon of illegally embracing women- out, a mandatory, unpaid week in so- every week, after school, in faculty- teachers on their way in to vote. The called in-service! No one really thought rooms (there were 15 schoc )ls) all year election w is finally allowed to stand. it would actually happenjust a long. We began to know our lines t-,y The judge wrote that even thougl Martin bargaining ploy, we may have thought heart; it may he that many teachers did and Herndon probably did embrace but, in the last week of school, CFA too. We figured to win by a landslide. these ladies, those embraces had no lawyers told us we had to do it. (We must mention here the artist, Dennis effect on the outcome. Up to now, this must seem to he Carr, who made our flyers look like Outside of the terrible effect of that more a history of the CTA and the Michaelangelo. )(IA perhaps thought judgment on Martin's and Herndon's District, than of Local 3267. But now, so too, and got PIM to call off the vanity, the rest is normal. We signed our let's admit, we suddenly did first contract in 1981, a very know what we were doing.==lo good one, we think, with Wright called up Marie Whipp excellent medical benefits, who expressed-up those ON STRIKE... early-retirement options, job wonderful, yellow AFT T-shirts, and transfer protectionplus enough for all our members and The district fired every striking teacher immediate!) good money. INirothy Baylin. plenty left over for our new An army of scabs crawled tOrth from under rocks and Karen Boyle, Phil Davis and members and, on that hlue out of asylums. Dolly Keefe 'tad joined the Monday, we became the bargaining team.We had leadership of the Jefferson A problem surfaced: principals of schools were jr,TA invaluable help from Tom members (and even leaders). But principals School District. Tateosian had were Martin. Later, CTA made a the messagepassive resistance, given waivers. were given permission, to w) to work, against their fellow members on the picket line. couple of ha lf-heaned attempts perhaps we'll call it--and to de-certify us; now we did organized all teachers around it. Often, those principals welcomed the scabs, and win by land.slides. We've just The big-shot, imported, idiot in- waiked out to picket lines,i tell teachers they could bargained our third. 3-year servicers came with their film- do without them. contract now: we've added strips and such; teachers kept Teachers Ivgan to get the idea that there was better class-size language. total discipline (their reps noi something wrong with such a strike, and such an gotten back sabbaticals. wore the yelklw AFT shirts!) organization. improved retiree-options and and didn't yell or demonstrate benefits, got decent money. and or hreak things, just paid no front 'A Concise Hist( iry of the 1.5 D.. or The Intelligent Teacher's (iiikle to the I )ei. ertilication Election. Pan 2: A kept the good things we had. attention, turned their backs, Service of the Historical Division. Local 3267, AhT" Chronis, Mara. Herndon and read, played cards, chatted Tateosian have retired, Lasley. quietly, asif the in-servicers Peebles, Burgoa. Mortola and weren't there. The in-servicers Lowry have resigned. We've a couldn't hear it; most packed up and left. election on the gmunds of the old, new President, Adrienne Zanini. new The District couldn't hear it either and unsettled, out-of-scope charges. We got officers, Jason Anderson, Patrice Duffy, called it off after three days. more cards signed though, and Carolyn Jaramillo. Richard Martin. Maxine (We don't mean to imply that the campaigned the same way again, calling Riley, Pat McGraw.We have super above was fun; it was auful, no one for I 'nity and so on. and in 1980 PERB Building Reps. We've got about 35 new who was there will ever forget it, hut it finally allowed the electi( in to proceed: teachers this year, Maxine is the Mentor worked, and it may have been the first Norma Librador dr( we 10 teachers at a Teacher for new teachers, and you can action teachers in the Jefferson School time, all day long, to the polls, and may bet they'll get organized.We guess District took that had worked). have lectured them a hit, and we indeed we're in business. Briefly then, the "success" part. won by a landslidethat is, by two The contract was up and no new one in votes. It is a good thing we did, since we (The Historical Division, Local 32(7, AFT! sight (PERB still arguing) and we held a kid g( men lots of help and advice from AFL-CIO, contributor) social that fall and got over 65% of Tom Martin and Raoul and National AFT teacherstosigncardsfora Reps and. admittedly, dkln't always take representational election then and there. the advice. There followed another year

1 04 1 06 WeaverFederation of Teachers the Weaver Federation of Teachers lost AFT Local 3484 The Weaver Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 3484 was chartered in 1975. by votes. Chartered 1975 The charter president was Steve Becker; This might have been the end of the other charter memners included Lou story, but it wasn't. Many teachers were and Del Meyer, Dave Aubertin, Karen i:Issatisfied with their representation by Patterson, Karen Grn, Greg Bender, the Association.They weren't alone, Emmett Mullen, Rose Valdez, and The Weaver classified employees were Margaret Phillips. The first AFT also dissatisfied with their representation, representative was Maurice Fitzpatrkli, or rather lack of it. Theyhad no contract later followed by Marian Hull. and no power. The district had had the This was a group of teachers that did same board president andsuperintendent not wish to be controlled anylonger by for almost 20 years. The District would CTA and tlieir Burlingame headquarters. tell classified employees, "You can have It was also opposed to agency shop, and 2 or 3%". wanted to be represented by an Finally, on one of the coldest, foggiest organization that was affiliated with nights ever, the entire classified organized labor.Since these teachers employees unit met at the home of Mei knew that a collective bargaining law for Branco and all agreed that they weren't teachers was about to take effect, they feeling very good about the situation; in wanted the support and expertise of a fact they weren't feeling well at all. They real union not an Association that had felt so had that the next day they all oppc)sed collective bargaining tOr years. called in sick.There were no bus They wanted the democratic right to drivers, aides, janitors, or cafeteria vote on ratification of contractsand workers at school. Radio station KYOS hargainiag power at the table. And dues rc,..orted that there was a "strange illness" for the AFT were considerably lower at Weaver School. Parents werecalling than dues for the CTA, too. because their children were not picked In May, 1976, before the election up,The District called for substitute

These three individuals promised to supportthe classified workers in the District and theneeds of education. The local produced many volunteersfrom its ranks. Members wrote andprinted literature, went door todoor, and held house meetings. In Novemberall three candidates were elected members of the WeaverSchool Board.

Raoul Teilhet came to visit teachers at drivers and a few showed up to drive. the Weaver School lounge. During But most busses on the streetshad lunch he gave an inspiring talk, giving principals and vice-principals directing undecided teachers something to think substitute drivers at the wheel. They about. One of "he things he talked about were not professionals,though.The was the need forteacher unity. way you could tell that waswhen busses Unfortunately the hical CIA chapter pa.ssed busses on the same street in wasn't interested in merger proposals. opposite directions, with confused- The election was extremely close, but looking drivers staring startled at one

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OFTEACHERS 105

107 another.It was all a comj,:ete surprise candidates were ekcted members of the another elementary school in Weaver to the classified employees, who didn't Weaver School Board. District have been passed by the Board. really think that they could do it. The hiring practices were very poorly Our negotiations sessions have Dave Aubertin called California organized and arbitrary.The last bus become more pleasant. The District and Federadon of Teachers rep Mariai driver that Ward hired was at step 7, top the Federation can trust each other to She helped the Weaver classified runan wage.No other employee had ever work to the advantage of employees, election, and on March 16, 1981 they been hired at any step other than first, students and better education. voted 46-3 to become affiliated with the including one driver/custodian who had AFT/CFT. A letter from first president worked for fourteen years,left, ano mei Branco, contributor) Sherry Hymer announced the change on came bac': to be hired at step one March 19. They were now o be called again! The classification system needed the Weaver Classified Employees revision. By then our CFT rep was Bill

mall agreed that they weren't feelingvery good about the situation; in fact they weren't feeling wellat at They felt so bad that the 'next day tiny all called in skk.

Association of the Weaver Federation of Callahan. He got to work on designing Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO, Local 3484. a new system. Hull gave assistance in negotiating the On December 12, 1986 the new first contract, which included raises of 9, board announced that Superintendent 9, and 9% over 3 years. Roy Ward would be replaced by Principal When Hymer resigned from the Steve Becker (yes, the charter president school, Mel Branco wa.s elected the new of AFT Local 3484) on January 5, 1987. president. She is still serving. Callahan and Branco presented a One of the major accomplishments proposal for a new classification system of Local 3484 occurred in 1985. Neither to Becker and the Board. They agreed teachers nor classified workers were the old system was unfair, changed it, satisfied with the performance of and awarded compensationof Superintendent Roy Ward and Board advancement to the third step to 14-year President VanAe.Local 3484 found employee Bill Buendia Jr. Money awards three candidates to run for the Weaver of $1000 each went to the three most School Board election. Ali three had a senior drivers, Jean Souza, Mary reputation for fairness and possessed Hernandez, and Grant Baker.Two educational backgrounds. They other drivers, Willie Bledsoe and Lloyd included: Elizabeth McCabe, with a Branco, and twenty year Custodian Frank background in education and farming; Alonzo split $1000. These settlements Delores Cabezut-Ortiz, educator and were due to the ability of the local and author at Merced College; and Geri the new hoard and superintendent to Procetto, Merced County Courts Recorder work together. and active in community organizations. There are many changes at Weaver These three individuals promised to School: four new buses, computers in support the classified workers in the classrooms, newly constructed school District and the needs of education. The offices, teachers lounge, workrooms and local produced many volunteers from its cafeteria additions. Student enrollment ranks. Members wrote and printed has enlarged from 500 to 1100. Thirteen literature, went door to door, and held new mobile units have been installed to house meetings. In November all three accomodate enrollment. Plans to build

106 North Monterey County Federation of Teachers be declared ineligible to vote (several AFT Local 4008 CTA finally after three years came up with a contract. It was notacceptable, AFT leaders just happened to be Chartered 1979 containing not even a hint of a grievance department heads).Although PERB procedure. A "Defeat the Contract" ultimately ruled in favor of the AFT, they movement was spearheadedby the were not a"Dwed to voteduring the proto-AFT, which created the "Concerned election. The fledgling AFT local lost the The story of the North Monterey Teachers of North Monterey County" runoff in January. The Local stayed alive for the next County Federation of Teachers, AFT and issued a strew a of flyers. Joined by few years under the presidency of Local 4008, begins before collective disgruntled teachers within the CTA, the Stephanie Smith through its publications ha %lining came to the district. In fact, group defeated the contractin April of and social events.The publications it bep4ris before North Monterey County 1979 by a margin of 116-73, and began group was made up of Neil Agron,Julie ichool came to the district, which lookhg toward forming a union, Hig: High, Gena Kurzfeld and Kimberly is NI !re the local was founded.' In Septemt r of 1979 a group of Patterson. They published Boarderlines In the winter of 1977-78, teachers teachers led by Agron, Smith and Mike (which reported on School Board Neil Agron and Stephanie Smith were Powlen decided to decertify the CTA. hired by the District to help plan the Then event followed upon event with meetings, and provided teachers with information they received from no one opening of a new high school nestled lightning rapidity. By October the union else) and Thistle, the monthly newsletter. among the artichokefields. They were teachers had been issued an AFT charter, By 1981 membership had doubled, teaching in other districts at the time, with the signatures of twenty two teachers and Bob Coble began teaching in the and drove together back and forth to the on it;they had circulated election district. He had been a member of the San Jose Airport a number of times.It authorization cards to the faculty; and AFT in Guam, where he had been vice- was during one of theirconversations gained the necessary number of president and editor of a 2,400-member on that drive that thesubject of teachei signatures to hold an elect,on. The first local, and had weathered a 58-day strike. unions came up. They had discovered election was held in December, and the that the CTA had been recognized by the results of the walk district to represent teachers in the North ballot were Monterey School District in 1976 after inconclusive; the Rodda Act had passed, and that it no one had a had been unable to negotiate a contract plurality. The since. Agron had been an AFT member vote was AFT- in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District 108, CTA- 107, for many years. He said to Smith, who no rep-4. The had gone to her first California Federation AFT utilized of Teachers convention the year before home visits, and was very impressed, "I've never which had been a member of CTA, and I don't see mixed results: any reason to start now." some teachers Proposition 13 had just passed; a thought it was new school was beingopened, and an invasion of there was little money. Perhaps by way their privacy, of compen:iation, the motto of the high while others Signing protocols for -Win-trin-: from left, Marilynand Dr. Irving Goldabar, school was "Now's Your Chance", and feltgrateful School Board Pres. Jennie terardo, Bob Cobk DisinciSecretaq Sheila Welch. the principal letit be known to the and aston- In 1982 the CTA invited Bob to join its young, energetic newly-hiredstaff that ished that anybody cared enough about bargaining team in a unity move; but he this was their opportunity to do what organizing teachers to come totheir was soon "dis-invited" bythe state CTA, they had always wanted to do in teaching. home and talk with them. which demanded that he join CTA first. smith, Agron and a number of like- During the run-off campaign the This infuriated many teachers and helped minded teachers discovered that one Al7 proposed that the two organizations thing they wanted to do was form an join in a united group. The CTA refused. lead to the local Association's downfall. 1983 the NMCFT gathered AFT local. But lvfore they put together During the election the CTA demanded In signatures from two-thirds of the teachers what was to become the NMCFT, the that teachers who were department heads

A HISTORY OF THE CAUFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS 107

109 for another election. At the Executive clearly related to the criticism in the providing campaign workers, gaining Committee meeting everyone felt pretty paper. The union called on its lawyer, the endorsemei It of the Monterey County good, even getting past the sudden Jan King, who came and defended him. AFL-CIO Labor Council's COPE and realization that "If we win, we'll have to The teacher kept his job. putting out numerous COPE newsletters. do all the work!" Julie Minard, cm' staff The following year CoNe, Agron, The North Monterey County representative, provided logistical Kurzfeld, Rosenthal, Dick, Lovato and Federation of Teachers is proud to have leadership during the campaign, and the Harold Whitfill negoted the second been the first AFT Local in California to nearby Salinas Valley Federation of unioncon- Teachers lent their office. The unions of tract, this time the Monterey Bay Council of CFT locals a two-year and AFL-CIO also gave support. In May agreement. 1983, with Coble as President, the North Another first Monterey County Federation of Teachers fo r t he became the bargaining agent with 70% teachers of the of the vote.Following the election distriLt: president former Stephanie Smith left NMCFT neg- teaching to work in the Literacy Project. ot iators got the The Executive Committee had been district to right: that's when the work began. After agree to pay the election the AFT bargaining team part of teach- negotiated into the following spring. ers' dependent The personnel director had earlier cost for health boasted that he'd never reached coverage. agreement with the CTA, and the They also "Win-win" negotiations team: from left, Tom Forgette, Prank Robinson, Kim superintendent was also hostile to brought two Ward, Bob Coble, Jane Rosa, Ken Jonian, Harold Whitfill, Marianne Strader teachers organizing. Within a year that thirds of the contract under binding participate in the "Win-Win" negotiations superintendent was gone, the board and arbitration. of Dr. Irving Goldaber for their third union were working reasonably well Stepping into uncharted waters, contract. The school board sat down as together, and the old personnel director the union became involved in hoard equals with teachers, and even board became superintendent. Finally, in May, elections in 1987 and 1988. AFT member members whom the union had opposed union members Coble, Kurzfeld, Barbara Tom Forgette ran the campaign of John felt the experience had improved Rosenthal, Jeanne Dick, and Roberto McKie against three incumbents in the communications and their relationship Lovato, with Minard's assistance, finished 1987 election. McKie's main purpose in with teachers. Representatives of Local hammering out a three-year contract, running was to improve relations 4008 have been invited to speak with and it was ratified. The teachers received between the district, the hoard and the many other CFT and CTA locals about a back p -yr lump sum of 6% for the first union. With the assistance of AFT "Win-Win" negotiations procedures. The year, 8.8% for the 9, econd, and the third memb Forgette, Sherry Fukuhara, negotiations team of Coble, Whitfill, year 7% (after mediation and fact- Coble and Agron (among others), who Frank Robinson, Jane Rosa, Marianne finding). distributed buttons and bumper stickers Strader, Tom Forgette, Kim Ward, and The contract also achieved an in all the schools, he got the most votes Ken Jordan negotiated an agreement for increase in the list of things that could he of any candidate.But McKie, who the district to pay complete health subject to binding arbitration, reduced worked for the federal government, coverage for one dependent, raise class size, and created a better leave received a job transfer in 1988. So the salaries, require service fees for non- policy. AFT looked for a good replacement. members, and provide prep periods for In 1985, the high school newpaper Forote managed the campaign of Jim the new "middle schools" staffs. advisor George Wright wrote an editorial Gonzalez, whose children attended critical of the back-to-school night in the school in the district, against anti-teacher (Ned Agron, Bob Coble, Stephanie Smith, school paper. This occurred during the candidates, including the former trustee contributors) third year of his probation.He was who'd been defeated the previous year. suddenly given a series of extra The union helped overcome racial observations and negative evaluations, divisions in the electorate for the victory,

108

BEST COPY AVAILABLE () San DiegoAdult Educators president with Catherine Stoll and Joan down. This could become a landniark AFT Local 4289 Severson, the next el...,:ted presidents. decision for terminated teachers. John Chartered 1982 Joan was the recipient of the CFT Women Sullivan, President of SDAE at that time, in Education Award in1983. John and Raul Martinez, GrievanceOfficer, led the way. San Diego Adult Educatorshas Sullivan became the first two-ye. president and served until 1984, when The 1987-1989 negotiationsshowed been the only organization representing salary increase over two the Virginia Kellner, who received a San an 18 percent the Continuing Education faculty of and a half years.The successful San Diego Community College District. Diego County CFT Award foroutstanding service to her local in 1987, became our bargaininf. was accomplished by the Originally we were an independent comprised of leader.She started out as a site rep; expert negotiations team organization affiliated with the California Raul Martinez; Gaiy Gleckman, benefits Council for Adult Education (C.C.A.E.) became an officer, corresponding sem-7y, membership chair,and served chair;JudyQt.'1ton,adjunct and the Southern Section componentof representative; Shera Heitmann, C.C.A.E., C.C.A.E.-S.S. Our name inthe on the negotiating team. Shirk Nester is the first recycled counselor representative; Jim Park, early sixties was the 'San Diego Post- member at large; and Shirle Nester, with secondary Teachers' Association'. h was president, having served once before in CFT representative ClarenceBoukas at changed in the mid-sixties to the 'Council 1974-75 when SDAE was an independent. In June 1986 she was once againelected the helm. for Adult Education'. The change to 'San Some members of SDAE never quit Diego Adult Educators' becameeffective president and continues to serve in that position. She is also chair ofthe task working for the lJnion.Even after in 1971. retirement, Lydia Stewart kept the books At that time the CommunityCollege force to recommend trailer legislation to Diego AB 1725 for the CFT CommunityCollege for three years after she retired, and District was still a part of the San Leona Plummer has kept theShoptalk Unified School District. In 1973, by voter Council.She was recognized by the CCAE as a Master Teacher andreceived newsletter professional in appearance mandate, the Community Colleges and and style with her expertise withthe Continuing Education became a separate an OutstandingTeacher Award from that state organization. computer. Leona retired two years ago. district with its own Board ofTrustees What would we do withoutthose and delineation of function agreements. SDAE/AFT initiatedseveral innovations, one of which givesthe dedicated teachers? Shoptalk has been During that time, many of our recognized with Honorable Mentions members demonstrated strong leadership Continuing Education faculty some career ladder opportunities and adjunct faculty and third place, 1989, UnionTeacher throughout the state and nation. Berneice Press Awards. Leona's layout and Crust, Judson Bradshaw, AliceLeicht, some security. Professorpositions were negotiated in 1982, and 23 instructors President Nester's monthly messages Clarence Cruz, and Shir le Nester were winners. Many were promoted.Fixed-term assignments were both third-place presidents of the C.C.A.E.-S.S. In 1989 the unionestablished a others not mentioned heldofficer were also implemented atthat time, and some hourly instructors wereawarded memorial scholarship fund in the name positions. of the late Virginia Kellner,who passed We struggled through "meetand these fixed-term assignments. SDAE/AFI' took on one of the most away in November 1988, to go to anESI. confer" until that glorious dayCollective student each year, to continue hisiiwr Bargaining became law.We were difficult cases regarding lay-off of tenured facultymore properly called The education. Its contributors were fellow feverishly wooed by CTA and CFT. We teachers, SDAE, CFT, friends,anc. never had any doubt, andwhen it came Foundation Suit. In March 1983, seven language instructors were terminated-- administrators.The first scholarship time to decideCFT won handsdown. SDAE also teachers of French, Spanish, and German. was awarded June 1989. We had been steadfast membersof AFT- help Our SDAE/AFT filed a suit. The San Diego gives ten $50 scholarships to CFI' with our affil 'Rion since 1976. Continuing Education students.Teachers name did not change; wejust added Community College District hadceased offering these classes hut did offerthem recommend names to the union, and a AFT.Initially we came in under AFT union committee selects the winners. Local 1931's charter, but on October 1, through the San Diego Community College Foundation. Today SDAE/AFT represents some 1982, we were granted our owncharter 1100 adjunct faculty and 110 contract and became Local 4289. All language classes in the fall of transferred faculty. Our goal, as always, is more During our beginning phase,it 1983 were discontinued and of SDAE is under the Foundation. Our suit addressed contract faculty. The heart took 18 months to achieve ourfirst our adjunctfaculty; we will always contract with PatriciaRicard, president, the issue that these classes indeed were represent them and our contractteachers. and Shirle Nester, negotiationschair. still being offered.That suitisstill As always, the most importantthing to We had a lot to learn, and withthe help pendingand now has gone to the us in ContinuingEducation is our of AFT staff representatives RudyKne, Appeals Court.The seven teachers studentthe future of America. Jim Robinson, and VinnieRussell, we affected have experienced great stress. designed an excellent contract. It is hoped that by late1989, six years (Shale Nester, contributor) Rene Haase followed Pat as later, a "win" decision will behanded

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS 109 l 1 Academic Professionals ofCalifornia AFT Local 4373 a comfortable margin. The leadership of is bargain the "impact" of the classification what was soon to become APC on probation, salary and benefits. Chartered 1985 immediately began meeting to put Relations between the union and imenewm together our first contract proposal. administration during these negotiations Negotiations began in early 1983, with were so acrimonious that since that time Ricardo Torres, Carlos Skeete, Nancy CSU has discussed re-classification Jorgenson, Steve Koletty, Nancy Slaven, systems before implementing them. Mary Valentine and Stew Long In 1985 Academic Professionals of The United Professors of California representing the academic professionals lifornia, AFT Local 4373 officially came (UPC) was founded in the 1960s as the at the table. AFT national staff member into being as a statewide local with result of a statewide merger of AFT state Kaye Faulkner provided assistance. nineteen autonomous chapters, one per university locals and chapters of the Negotiations ended with a 9% raise, campus. Governance was established Association of California State College which the union considered only to be as a division of powers between the APC Professors. Nineteen independent locals "catch-up" money for ground lost since Council, with each chapter sending one were established around the state under the 60s. elected representative, and an Executive the umbrellas of UPC. UPC includedan CSU wanted to create a subclass Board with eight officers.Later the academic support unit, which later within the unit called "non-academic second slate of officers was elected. became Academic Professionals of employees".This group would have These were Ernie Scosseria, President; California, APC, AFT Local 4373. had virtually no rights except for time Tony Garduque, Vice-president for The academic support unit was and a half for overtime.The union Communications; Susan Stephens, created in the early 60s. The university succeeded in keeping this take-hack out Secretary; Nolan Shaffer, Treasurer; Ray had begun at that time to downgrade the of the contract, getting them classifiedas DeLeon, Vice President for Membership; status of academic employees, and "administrative employees".Another and Wiggsy Sivertsen, Vice President for attempted to do away with their tenure important element of the first contract, Legislative Action. and promotional rights. The unitas it initialiy resisted by CSU, was a grievance There was a lot of money on the was constructed was quite a polyglot procedure with binding arbitration. table in that same year when the contract affair,.rith administrative employees Dental care became part of the benefits came up for renegotiation, The CSU put who teach as part of their load, academic package for the first time.Before the forward a proposal fora new support personnel, student services next round of negotiations, vision care classification series that would have professionals, extendA education was added as well. Academic employees benefitted some of the unit at the expense specialists, and others:a total of forty were more or less pleased by the first of others, creating a serious political classifications in the unit. an fact, former contract. Administrative employees were problem for the bargaining team of APC, president of APC Ernie Scosseria has less happy with one portion of it, since which consisted of Torres and Kollety characterized the unit as "an alphabet the university refused to negotiatea again, along with Ernie Scosseria, Ray soup unit", and its history as "a history of reform of reclassification procedures. DeLeon, Carlotta Calmese, and Carol inititals.")Practically everyone has at In the first union elections held Göerke. least a B.A., and most positions require after collective bargaining, Ricardo Torres Approximately 40% of the unit advanced degrees. was elected President; Ernie Scosseria supported the agreement; roughly the By 1981 UPC had several thousand Northern VP; Mary Valentine Southern same amount did not, and the rest were members.The role of the academic VP; Nancy Jorgensen, Secretary, and not affected.Meanwhile the debates support employees in the union had Steven Koletty Treasurer. and intense discussion within the union grown considerably. That year, Carol The two year contract provided for held up an 11% raise, which had already Wallish became the Secretary of UPC, reopeners in off-years on six articles been agreed upon; 60% of the members the first academic support employee to including salary Snd benefits. CSU had were not happy about that. The APC hold a stitewide office in the union. In proposed a new classification system bargaining team tried hard to work out 1982 the collective bargaining election affecting two thirds of the unit, which the best agreement to protect as many was held for the statewide faculty and the union challenged. PERB ruled that members of the unit as possible. academic support units. The UPC faculty classification was not within the scope Eventually the new classification was lost by 39 votes out of 13,000 cast of collective bargaining. and CSU met implemented. As a consolation to the statewide; the "unit 4" election was won with us but refused to allow input into section of the unit that felt unhappy by tk AFT academic support group by the process. They said all they would do about the result, the union did gain two

110, 112 days vacation per month; the right to the AFT. union won a grievance that had gone to peer review; and aprofessional In 1988 CSU unions buried the arbitration, with full back pay for the development program for those members hatchet of past enmities and founded the affected employee. In Spring of 1989, a new slate of without doctorates, so that employees in CSU Labor Council.All six unions, officers was elected. These were: Gale the lower reclasses gained the possibility including APC, came together initially to Pemberton, President; Patrick O'Reilly, to move up. put an end to increases ofparking fees First Vice-President, Wiggsy Sivertsen, Nearly forty grievances were filed for employees, and began joint wqrk on Vice-President for Legislative Action; by the union on behalf of members, a project at the centerof power for the Rosie Woods, Treasurer; SusanStephens, directly due to the new reclassification CSU administration: budget reform. Secretary; Joseph Scheitzach, Vice- system. The union also gainedthe right The budget of the CSU has been called President for Membership; Lance Hauer, for those members not direi.ily affected a "black hole" by the APCleadership, Vice-President for Communications; and by the ,..class to ask for a review to be and that characterization aptly describes placed into the student services or the current accountability systemfor Janice Moore, Vice-President, Collective professional series. At Sacramento State, spending. Also on the agenda for the Bargaining. Much of the history of APC, as fora Labor Council is on-campu3 childcare threeemployees asked should be evident by now, has been reclassification, and despite the contract and building an alliance with student involved in trying to develop unity among language, management refused. When government to create abroad-based the many employee groups within the the employees tried to appeal to a peer united front to present to the CSU Solidarity is essential for the review, they were refused the right todo Trustees. The Council, it is hoped,will unit. The union took their case to createcloutthroughsolidarity successful defense of employee rights that. and for contractual gains. APC looks arbitration and won. unavailable to any of the individual unions by themselves. forward to continuing to develop that The 1987 contract gains featured it.s own members and progressive funeral The CSU decided in 1988 not to solidarity for an innovative and together with the other CSU unions for leave clause for non-married significant pay anyone merit payincreases. Mass all university employees. o*fiers/domestic partners.Led by the demonstrations were called by the team of Scosseria, Torres,Gale campus Labor Councils. At one campus, (Ernie Scosseria, contributor) Pembeiton, Beverly Staples, Bill Huling, where traditionally there has been an and Tony Garduque, wage gains were "ice cream day" each year wherethe Chancellor provides ice cream free to all 4%for the first year and 6% for the second. Other improvements included employees, he was greeted with the

At one campus, wheretraditionally there hasbeen anIce cream each year whi,e the ice creamfree to all he was the chant Let it

improved career advancement and chant "Let it Melt, Let it Melt!" At another, professional development programs, the President of Hayward State refused greater protection againstlayoffs, to answer a questionby current APC dependent health coverage, and deferred President Gale Pemberton at a beginning- taxes paid for childcare expenses. of-school, campus-wide meeting, Clarence Boukas, CFT field whereupon she led a walkout of over representative, helped the negotiations 100 staff. team.From 1985-87 Mary Valentine While the Labor Council augurs worked as a fulltime staff personfor well for all the employees of the CSU, APC, coordinating membershipdrives, APC has created its own share of victories. publications and legal concerns.Her One outstanding recent example, in 1989, salary was paid by the national officeof occurred at Cal Poly Pomona, when the

1 1 1 A HISTORY OF THE CAUFORNIAFEDERATION OF TEACHERS San Francisco Ballet School Federation of Teachers

AFT Local 4481 Following our official Chartered 1986 chartering, we elected a teacher with 28 years at the San Francisco Ballet as President, Marlene The San Francisco Ballet School Fitzpatrick Swendsen. Federation of Teachers was born out of Charter members included the all-too-familiar need to find support HenryBerg, Leslie during a period of intense turmoil inour Crockett, Christine Bering, workplace. From 1984 through 1986 the LyndaMeyer,Susan San Francisco Ballet Association was Sotirkos, Zola Dishong, going through a change in direction and Mary Wood, and Anatole management, and there were many signs Vilzak. One of our most Russell Hill photo that the change was reaching deep into enthusiastic supporters was our division, the School. One woman Mr. Vilzak, a living link with the Imperial security of knowing that theywere came in to pick up her paycheck to find Russian Ballet of our heritage, who at working from the same set of rules. Our she'd been fired. A couple of formerly age 90 still taught 2-4 classes a week. moment of triumph came when the full-time teachers were dropped to part- The two months between that first management lawyer indicatedit was time without explanation. And the firing meeting and the representation election about time someone tidiedup this of the School's Director, splashedacross on November 14, 1986 were spent in situation! the local newspapers, was close to countlesslate-nightmeetings, Since the contract, grievance scandalous. confrontations with management, soul- procedures and salary schedules have We began with a gathering late in search ing and yes, some defections from been established, and the ballet the evening, after our last classes, to air our cause.But on November 14 we association has hired a professional and share our concerns. Because artists, prevailed, and then began the arduous personnel manager to keep accurate especially dancers, are notoriously naive task of creating a contract from scratch. records and compile a history of past about business matters, we invited At that time we had only memos of practices. spouses with both business and legal agreement which the company manager For the first time, the teachers in the expertise, and the consensus was plain: had written without our input.There school had a definition of work load, go union. It seemed only logical; in our was no set procedure for grievances and class size, an equitable pay scale witha bus:iness the performers are union no job security clause. Sabbatical leave 4% raise built in for the life of the three- (AGMA), the stagehands (IATSE) and hadn't even been imagined. Whenwe year contract, vacations, and guidelines the musicians are union (AFM). Why net began comparing our inciividual for the yearly evaluations. the teachers? agreements, we learned that there was The thirty page contract details such

- no uniformity as things as the professional responsibilities to who was of the teachers. benefits, including covered by health maternity leav:.s, personal leaves and, insurance; widely for the first time, the right to ask fora 4 varying weeks of sabbatical leave. While the granting of paidvacation; sabbaticals is left to the discretion of the different rates of employer, the very fact that teachers pay for teachers of could now ask for a sabbatical leave to equal category: pursue a plan of study, dance or travel %Car and different was a major step forward. percentage In the two years since its ratification increases on yearly there have been several occasions when wages. we were grateful for the protection of The feeling our contract and the backing of the AFT. An local 4481 Executive Council Mary Wood, Vice President; Susan among the Sotirkos, President; Lynda Meyer, Secretary; Leslie Crockett, Treasurer, 1988teachers was that ( Mary Wood, contributor) (Torn Martin photo) all should have the

1 1 2 114 University Council/AFT Council-AFT was Paul Goodman, a Established 1971 The history of the University Council/American Federation of History professor from the Davis campus. Teachers can be traced back 25 years Patricia St. Lawrence, a Genetics professor when the first AFT local was established at Berkeley, was the NortFern Vice at the University of California.The President, and Jack Blackburn, of the Berkeley Faculty Union (Local 1474) Labor Center at Los Angeles, was cbosen was chartered in 1963, andbranching as Southern Vice President.Shortly after from it, the University Federation of the Council was formed Sam Bottone Librarians (Local 1795), was established was hired as Executive Secretary. in 1967. Other campuses formed locals Early issues the UniversityCouncili during the late 1960s and early 1970s. AFT took up included problems The University Council/AFT was associated with the failure of many formally organized on June 19, 1971, Assistant Professors to be granted tenure, when seven AFT locals at the University and with salaries which lagged behind of California voted to establishthemselves those at comparable universities across as a council. At a meetingheld in Los the country. Librarians were concerned Angeles, representatives decided to with sexually discriminatory salaries, a withdraw from the United Professors of nationwide phenomenon in which California and to form their own workers in female-dominated organization in order to more effectively occupations were paid lower salaries organize at the University of California. than workers having similar educational requirememc and responsibilities in male- dominated occupations. During the Spring of 1972, the Council was presented with one of its most serious crises: the building trades unions at the Berkeley and San Francisco campuses voted to go on strike against the Universit). The Berkeley/San Francisco librarians local honored the strike and placed demands of its own on the table. The ten-week walkout was the longest public employee strike in California atthe time, and atits conclusion, the University administration provided a small raise to begin correcting librarian pay inequities. In 1973 Assemblyman John Miller (D-Berkeley) introduced on the Council's behalf a pay inequity bill for librarians. It had the strong support from the CFT 13erkelev Enghsh 141win/4e Program newatiating team, 1979,waled from and its Legislative Advocate, Mary Bergan, Ilaydee Wink Margam .Veuman. Arens Shekalqg standing:Geoffiry the California Labor Federation, and Reinhard. Alice Gawk. .1acqueline 11( wpprier. homile Burns. ArthurCarson, Bermack photo) from the California Library Association. Dohs .Spafford. Ellen 1?osenfield. Ruth Finnerty (Richard The bill provided $340,000 for 1974/ In August of the year, an eighth local 1975 to adjust librarians salaries upward representing Berkeley librarians Berkeley to make them comparable to thoseof voted to affiliate, and was soon joined by similar male-typed Occupations. a ninth which had beenstarted on the The Council was successful in Irvine campus. introducing and having signed into law The first chair of the University an Open Files bill in 1978.The bill, by

0 6 0 0 40 State Senator David Roberti (I)-Los act provided bargaining rights for both began in May 1984, and continued for Angeles), provided employees access to UC and State University and Colleges two years, concluding in a first contract their personnel files, with only the names employees. The University Council/AFT in May 1986.Majcr improvements in and other identification removed from sought, unsuccessfully, to have the bill working conditions included: the first confidential materials. The CFT and amended so as to provide UC Academic 3ystemwide guidelines for regularizing CaVornia Labor Federation (and an 11th Senate members the same bargaining retention and merit increase reviews; hour call from its Executive Secretary- rights as other groups Included within preserving the traditional right of the the bill UC Academic Senates to set courseloads Senate units and determine curricular needs; setting are spelled out maximum course loads; establishing the in the law and righ( of unit members to use departmenta! their scope of equipment, support services, and travel bargaining is and development funds; and most limited. importantly, making clear that there was HEERA no limit on the length of time a unit became member could be employed at the effective July University previously there had been 1, 1979. The three to eight year limits imposed by University various departments on various administra- campuses. tion was able The Council's work is not complete: to delay elec- we want to see present contracts strength- tions through ened, to bring bargaining rights to pro- extensive fessors and researchers, to improve PERB unit teaching and research, and generally to determination make the University of California a more hearings for open and democratic institution in which University Council/AFT president Spencer Olin. Professor of History at (IC four years. An students are better served and faculty Irvine, with CR' President Raoul Teithet, c.1974 election for and staff work in a more productive and librarians was collegial way. Treasurer, John F. Henning, urging held and in June, 1983, PERB certified Governor Jerry Brown to sign) were key the AFT as the bargaining agent. (Philip Hoehn, contributor) to getting the bill into law. The University Bargaining began in December 1983, administration promptly refused to and a first contract was ratified by unit comply with the law, and the State of members in August 1984. Among the California and the UC/AFT took legal major gains: salaries would be increased action to enforce compliance; the issue at the same percentage as other academic is still being litigatecL employees, research funds were defined Beginning in1973, the Council and specific amounts allocated by made major efforts to secure collective campus, a nine-month year option was bargaining legislation for academic established, peer review was protected, employees at the University.The binding arbitration was provided as the University Council/AFT argued for the last step of the grievance procedure, sick inclusion of UC academic employees in leave was broadened to include illness several bills which were introduced in of family members, and the dual track the Legislature. It was not until 1978, for librarian promotion (administrative however, thatabill carried by or specialist) was preserved. Assemblyman Howard Bernun (D-Los In an election held in January 1984, Angeles) the Higher Education some 2,000 Non-Senate Faculty chose Employer-Employee Relations Act the University Council/AFT as their (HEERA) was signed into law. This exclusive representative. Bargaining

1 1 4

BEST COPY AVAILABLE CFT Field Representatives Union Establihed 1972 Harriet Levy, Elsbeth Marsha:I, Rose County, and Municipal Employees Ungar, Ralph Lloyd and Sheryl Pettitt (AFSCME) Local 101, State Council, form this set of alumni. Rudy Kne, now AFSCME Local 57, AFT Director for In Memory of Sam Bishop: an AFT national representative, is the the California Health Care Organiz- A Short History of the only person to have served as a member ing Project CFT/Field Representatives Union of pre- and post-CFT/FRU who is not Chuck Canniff September 1972, Past currently on the CFT staff. Probably the President, Newport-Mesa Federation For those who've been around the most notable of all however, a guru to of Teachers, past president Orange County Council of AFT Locals CFT longer than most of us, these names many of us, was the soft-spoken, Missis- may seem familiar: Hank Clarke, Don sippi-accented Sam Bishop. Sam was a Marian Hull October 1978, Past Presi- dent and Chief of Crusades, United Henry, Hugh Mac Coll, Ralph Schloming charter member of CFT/FRU.Some and Bill Plosser. They were CFT staff eight years later he joined the staff of Catholic Secondary Teachers Asso- representatives during the 50s and 60s. AFT. During his time on the CFT staff, ciation (Los Angeles Archdiocese) They had no ur on of their own, for if Sam taught us much. Some of us worked Tom Martin January 1978, Past Presi- they did, most would have been the one our first strike under Sam's direction dent, Santa Barbara Federation of and only member.In the late 60's, (Pajaro).lie was the kind of person Teachers, Past Vice President of CFT greatly due to the relentless efforts of whom everyone liked as well as re- Mary Valentine August 1988, Past Vice President of United Professors Raoul Teilhet and spected. Sam his faithful side- died of leu- of California, Project Representative for AFT Higher Education, Execu- k ick Marie kemia in Whipp, the CFT 1979, a great tive Director of the Oregon Commu- began to grow. and untimely nity College Council The times were loss to all of Julie Minard January 1978, Past President, ABC Federation of Teach- right.Teachers us. Itis in ers Past Vice President of cvr(pres- were as frustrated 11111..._ dllaLti. Sam's honor with their lot as that the cur- ently on leave) they were with rentCFT/ the CTA (which FRU mem- (Chuck Caniff, contributor) got them there in bers dedicate the first place). this page. Teilhet had the As for right message and From left top: Tom Martin, Marian Hull, Maty today's cur- a method of de- Valentine, Larry Bordan: bottom. Bill Callahan, Chuck rent roster of Minard not shown) I i very without Caniff, Clarence Doukas CFT/FRU peer. As the CFT grew, so did its staff. here we are, and whence we came, In 1972, at the first real training including the date we joined the CFT workshop for CFT staff, held at UC Santa staff and CFT/FRU too!(You see we Barbara, the California Federation of have a union shop. I. Teachers Field Representatives Union was formed.What else would one Mary Bergan August 1972, Past Presi- expect of a group of union activists dent, Pittsburg Federation of Teach- !.,fought together with a common emers ployer? There were rights to be pro- Larry Bordan August 1972, Past Presi- tected, salaries to be bargained, a con- dent, Culver City Federation of tract to be negotiated, and a general all Teachers, Past Vice President, CFT for one and one for all attitude prevailed. Clarence BoukasAugust 1971, Staff of Besides, it was fun: a union of unionists the Los Angeles Teachers Union, so to speak. Staff of the Hawaii Federation of Since 1972, many members of UT/ Teachers Sam Bishop FRU have joined and moved on. Dick Bill Callahan January 1986, Past Presi- Arnold, Leona Sibelman, Mike Nye, dent of American Federation of State,

A HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS 1 1 5

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 11 7 Today,asin the beginning, AFTmeanspmfessionals setting the standard for theirownpmfession.

41/

Wecongratulate the California Federation of Teachers for seventyyearsof improving the lives and working conditions of those who work in California public schools. AFT- ILLINOIS FEDERATION OFTEACHERSAFL-CIO III The Illinois Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO, extends congratulations to the California Federationof Teachers in commemoration of its seventy yearsof service.

This historical milestone marks nearlythree-quarters of a century thatthe California Federation of Teachers has stood united to provide continuous support topublic education workers and to strive for the qualityeducation that America's children deserve.

We, too, are proud to be a part of the American Federation of Teachers. Our belief in "Education for Democracy and Democracy in Education" hasbeen the inspiration behind all of our goals andaccomplishments.

We also take pride in our affiliationwith the AFL-CIO, and our contributions to the labor movement. We arefirmly dedicated to the ideals of organized labor, and will continue to strive for fair wages andgood working conditions for public education workers.

Again, we commend you on your yearsof service and wish you many more years of accomplishments.

Jacqueline B. Vaughn, President Kenneth J. Drum, Secretary-Treasurer Illinois Federation of Teacher INTERNATIONAL UNION UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA UAW REGION 6

Congratulations to California Federation of Teachers on their 70th year of service to education and the community.

A Message From The U.A.W.

The education of our children is a vital part of our nations ability to maintain this great republic. The California Federation of Teachers can be proud of their role of providing collective bargaining representation and leadership in thenever ending fight for quality public education for all. We in the U.A.W. salute you for your seventy years of BRUCE LEE dedicated and principled leader- Director ship. The labor movement is indeed fortunate to have such an outstanding organizationas The California Federation of Teachers. Best wishes Fraternally.

BRUCE LEE Director UAW Region Six The Workers of Tomorrow's WO are muslinons...

glob eMb.

It is education or stagnation. We join with the California Federation of Teachers in dedicating the next seventy years to even greater enlightenment...in both the classroom and the workplace.

tAACHIks4

0,...... , 0 8 0 Nek wr ir 0 F t 44° Western Territory International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO

District 94 District 190 DiNtrict 777 District 120 Los Angeles Oakland Long Beach Ontario

District 93 District 727 District 115 District 50 San Jose Burbank Oakland San Diego

George Kourpias Tom Ducy Justin Ostro International President General Secretary.Treasurer General Vice-President

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 121 The California Federation of Teachers has consistently showncourage, imagination and resolveon behalf of the profession and thepersons which itserves, students. We are proud to have assisted the California Federation of Teachers and its affiliates since 1964.

Van Bourg, Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld Congratulations

From The Minnesota Federatior of Teachers

We're Meeting the Challenge of Change

THE BEST UMON FOR TEACHERS, STATE EMPLOYEES, HEALTH CARE CSAFT/AFL-CIO WORKERS, EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL OtMertieult Stale rederd(11.I1 lit-red(tiers since 1947 and

COLLEGE FACULTY 123 Congratulations to the California Federation of Teachers on Your 70thAnniversary!

From Your Brothers and Sisters of the

Ohio Federation of Teachers

AFT/AFL-CIO

Ronald E. Marec, President

Congratulations onseventy yearsof service to California

From your colleagues in NewYork State.

The people Sww who help New York to learn. Affiliated with the Amencan Federation of Teachers. AFL.CIO

NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACII E RS. The people who work in New York's public schools,colkges, universities and healthcare facilities. CONGRATULATIONS

TO THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AFT/AFL-CIO ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY BAKERY Nekt

CONFECTIONERY AND TOBACCO

JOHN DECONCINI INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

RENERoNnou INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY-TREASURER

GRAYDON E. TETRICK INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

AND THE MEMBERSHIP AND FAMILIES OF THE BAKERY, CONFECTIONERY AND TOBACCO WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO/CLC

,i NC H eks,0 0A e :4; 0 ...A 7 .0: 0

FEA/UNITED. AFT. LOCAL 1974. AFL CIO

$.* 4141,Foo.

The United Teachers of Dade salutes the California Federation of Teachers on your 70th Anniversary.

As a sister local in the American Federation of Teachers, we applaud your accomplishments. All of us in the AFT are joined by a proud history. We look towards the future with optimism and continued progress.

Pat lbrnillo Munay Sissehnan UTD Executive Vke President UTD President DISTRICT COUNCIL OF IRON WORKERS of THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND VICINITY Extends SINCERE BEST WISHES On This MEMORABLE OCCASION

C.W. Lansford President Richard Zampa First Vice President Darrel E. Shelton Second Vice President Joe Roth Financial Secretary-Treasurer

Affiliated Local Unions 75 Phoenix, Arizona 509 Los Angeles, California 118 Sacramento, California 624 Fresno, California 155 Fresno, California 625 Honolulu, Hawaii 229 San Diego, California 627 San Diego, California 377 San Francisco, California 740 Phoenix, Arizona 378 Oakland, California 790 Oakland, California 416 Los Angeles, California 801 Reno, Nevada 433 Los Angeles, California 803 Honolulu, Hawaii

District No. 1 MEBA/NMU (AFL-CIO)

C.E. DeFries, President Shannon J. Wall, Executive Vice President C.E. Dodson, Treasurer Louis Parise, Secretary R.F. Schamann, Vice President, Licensed Division

Rene Lioeanjie, Vice President, Unlicensed Division 444 North Capitol Street Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20001

Marine Engineers Beneficial Association/National Mvritime Union FRATERNAL GREETINGS

FROM

THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES

William A. Duval A.L. Monroe General President General Secretary-Treasurex

Fred C. Hagen Michael E. Monroe General Vice President General Vice President

James H. Wolford Patrick L. Lane General Vice President General Vice President

Guy W. Leber Walter G. Raftery General Vice President General Vice President

Richard J. Zack Armando Colafranceschi General Vice President General Vice President

Congratulations on Seventy Years of Achievement

The 1.3 million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union congratulates the California Federation of Teachers on its seventieth birthday. We salute your past and pres:nt leaders and members who help ,lave the road to the future with a wealth of experience, wisdom, and history as guideposts.

9.14.4.7 William H. Wynn Jerry Menapace International President International Secretary-Treasurer

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union 1775 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 CFT Stands for Progressive and Agressive Unionism.

We Are Proud to Work with Your Union!

Greenstone, Holguin & Garfield Ellen GreenstoneSteven HolguinBeth Garfteld

Those whocan,teach. Those who can't, become attorneys.

Congratulations to the CFT.

Larry Rosenzweig Law Offices

126 70th Birthday Greetings to the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Local 49 California Federation of Teachers in Sacramento from the would like to express our

SOLIDARITY Interno#4onal Federation of Professional and Technical with the Engineers California Federation of Teachers AFL-CIO & CLC on your 70th Birthday

'Zs!Tr

Congratulations from your brothers and sisters in the In Solidarity United Farm Workers

International Longshoremen's ,.. and Warehousemen's Union

Jim Herman Randy Vekich Curt McClain Boycott Non-union President Vice-President Secretary-Treasurer

Grapes 1 2.!i The following unions From sea toshiningsea, & labor organizations The Massachusetts Federation wish to express their of Teachers unity of purpose AFT/AFL-CIO and their pleasure 41 st, with the 70th sends greetings to anniversary The California Federation of the of Teachers California AFT/AFL-CIO Federation of Teachers: onits 70th anniversary

AFL-CIO Laundry and Dry Cleaning International Union, Local 52

Marin County Central Labor Council

Michigan Federation of Teachers

Missouri Federation of Teachers

New Hampshire Federation oi Teachers

Rhode Island Federation of Teachers

Brotherhood of Teamsters and Auto Truck Drivers, Local 70

Utah Teachers United

Local 1741, United Transportation Union, S.F. School Bus Drivers

Wisconsin Federation of Teachers 130 Imagine, for example, that you werebeing fired because you were over 40 and a woman(Elizabeth Baldwin), or because you wore a beard(Paul Eno°, or because you participated in apeaceful political demonstration as a student teacher Utichard Broadhead) or because you wrote a letter-to-the-editor criticizing the administrationof the schools (Jack Owens). These events werenot uncommon inpre-collective bargaining schools. ...In the history book that youhold in your hands, you will discover your roots as aneducator and unionist in California. from the Preface

ISBN 0-9624601-0-9 Price: $12

BEST PIPy AMAMI