Award-Winning Newspaper of United Teachers Los Angeles • www.utla.net Volume XLVIII, Number 1, September 14, 2018 We ARE the 98% UTLA gathers steam with history-making strike vote while LAUSD stonewalls. Backed by a historic strike authorization vote, through the state-mandated process, the district’s UTLA is intensifying outreach to our critical allies— actions do not make mediation look promising. the parents of our students—in preparation for a UTLA has filed Unfair Practice Charges (UPCs) with possible job action. the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) The strike authorization vote was powerful both against LAUSD for unlawful interference with the in turnout (83% of members cast ballots) and the union’s strike authorization vote and for failure to huge affirmative vote. Out of 27,267 ballots, 98% provide key public information and financial docu- were “yes” votes to authorize a strike, which is the ments as they relate to bargaining. We may be forced highest percentage in UTLA history. to file additional UPCs in the near future. That is not the only history UTLA members made While LAUSD would like to constrict contract this month. During the strike vote, more than 1,000 talks to pay and a few narrow issues, educators new educators completed the All In application, bring- have been fighting for a proactive set of proposals ing our total membership to more than 31,000, or more that are urgently needed for the district to survive than 96% of LAUSD educators—the highest percent- and thrive, including lower class sizes, fair pay, age of membership since UTLA was founded in 1970. less testing and more teaching, accountability for “Our members have spoken, with one big, united charter operators and co-locations, respect for early voice, yet Superintendent Austin Beutner continues and adult educators, and more nurses, counselors, to stonewall, refusing to sit down with us,” says and librarians to support our students. The strike Arlene Inouye, chair of the UTLA Bargaining Team. vote results are an overwhelming endorsement of “After 17 months of bargaining with LAUSD, educa- UTLA’s bargaining demands, as well as an indict- tors are frustrated and angry. We want a district that ment of the privatization agenda to starve our partners with us—not fights us—on critical issues schools rather than reinvest in them. like lower class sizes, fair pay, and bringing more Trinity Elementary parent Alejandra Delgadillo sup- staff to work with our students.” ports a fair pay raise for teachers because she “sees all On September 11, LAUSD revealed that its un- the money teachers take out of their own pockets for restricted reserves have grown from $1.7 billion to their classrooms,” and she backs the other bargaining $1.863 billion, yet Beutner continues to claim that demands to create a better education for students. there is no money to improve classroom conditions “I want my children to have all the things teachers and respect educators, and he refuses to act in good are fighting for—low class sizes and nurses, counsel- faith and go directly to mediation. The state ap- ors, and librarians—and we are willing to strike side pointed a mediator on August 2, and UTLA has been by side to get that,” Delgadillo says. “As a parent, I ready to meet since that date. The district and Beutner hope a strike won’t be necessary, but I support the have refused to meet any earlier than September 27. teachers if it does come to that. It will be a short- While our team will try to reach a fair agreement term sacrifice for my children’s long-term future.” Strike prep calendar September 20: Thursday Area meeting October 3: Area Meeting Campaign update and critical tools for parent Action materials distributed outreach Ongoing: Engaging parents September 27: Mediation with LAUSD Talk to your chapter chair about when your Other sessions may be scheduled for dates school will be holding training and formu- soon after lating a parent outreach plan for your site September & October: Parent forums Have you signed the “We Will Strike If Sponsored by Reclaim Our Schools LA. We Have To” commitment form? Talk to your Flyers distributed at Area meetings or go chapter chair to sign today. to utla.net Strike prep FAQ ASK ME i Why READY. TOI am Page 4 STRIKE United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net September 14, 2018 United Teacher President’s perspective PRESIDENT Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA AFFILIATE VP Cecily Myart-Cruz AFT AFFILIATE VP Juan Ramirez Downsize or reinvest? ELEMENTARY VP Gloria Martinez SECONDARY VP Daniel Barnhart no education experience, as superinten- states in school funding. TREASURER Alex Orozco By Alex Caputo-Pearl SECRETARY Arlene Inouye UTLA President dent? The answer: to downsize the public • Give educators discretion over what non- school district. Investment bankers make federal- and non-state-mandated standard- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Good Over the last month with the strike au- their money by taking over entities, cutting ized tests to use in our classrooms, thereby thorization vote, our members took im- them, laying people off, consolidating, re- protecting instructional time and educator BOARD OF DIRECTORS portant steps toward being strike ready, packaging, and selling them off. professionalism, while creating space for arts, in case we have to walk. We continue our That is the unambiguous plan of Austin music, ethnic studies, and more. NORTH AREA: Karla Griego, Chair (Buchanan ES), Mark Ramos (Contreras LC), Rebecca Solomon (RFK UCLA determination to reach an agreement short Beutner and his billionaire backers—to • Improve working conditions for adult Comm. School), Julie Van Winkle (LOOC Liason) of a strike if we can—but, if we need to make cuts that hurt district students and education, early education, and substitute SOUTH AREA: Maria Miranda, Chair (Miramonte ES), strike to protect and expand public educa- benefit corporate charter schools and start teachers, along with increased investment Aydé Bravo (Maywood ES), L. Cynthia Matthews (McKinley ES), Karen Ticer-León (Tweedy ES) tion, we are now more prepared to do so. toward cutting healthcare, closing schools, in bilingual ed. In an even more intense way than usual, and issuing layoffs. • Place commonsense regulation on EAST AREA: Adrian Tamayo, Chair (Lorena ES), Ingrid Gunnell (Salary Point Advisor), Yolanda Tamayo I have been crisscrossing the city meeting It is outrageous to see it unfolding. After charter growth and reasonable account- (Lorena ES), Gillian Russom (Roosevelt HS) with members and parents. At schools ev- 17 months of bargaining, Beutner delayed abilities on charters. If the more than 280% WEST AREA: Erika Jones, Chair (CTA Director), Georgia erywhere, we have moved on from the au- mediation by an unprecedented 56 days— growth of corporate charters in the last 10 Flowers Lee (Saturn ES), Noah Lippe-Klein (Dorsey HS), Larry Shoham (Hamilton HS) thorization vote to the next two crucial tasks: this delay to September 27 is a slap in the years is duplicated in the next 10 years, • Ensuring 100% sign-on among UTLA face. That kind of delay might not seem we will face massive cuts to public district CENTRAL AREA: José Lara, Chair (Santee EC), Kelly Flores (Hawkins HS), Tomás Flores members to the “We Will Strike If We Have like much when you are sitting on the 24th schools, layoffs, school closures, and cuts (West Vernon ES), Claudia Rodriquez (49th Street) To” strike commitment form. floor of Beaudry with a $350,000 salary, but to healthcare. VALLEY EAST AREA: Scott Mandel, Chair (Pacoima • Ensuring outreach is occurring to have it stings when you are a student in an over- • Invest in a vision for our public district Magnet), Victoria Casas (Beachy ES), Mel House (Elementary P.E.), Hector Perez-Roman (Arleta HS) parents sign on to the Parent Support Form. crowded classroom, a parent struggling to schools—the Community Schools model— But, before we get to those, let’s reflect for ensure your child gets to see the counselor, or which supports school communities to VALLEY WEST AREA: Bruce Newborn, Chair (Hale Charter), Melodie Bitter (Lorne ES), Wendi Davis a moment on the strike authorization vote. an educator buying her own school supplies. develop assets/needs assessments and (Henry MS), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS) In an era in which we get used to 15% Simultaneously, Beutner has refused for strategic plans to build wrap-around ser- HARBOR AREA: Steve Seal, Chair (Eshelman ES), voter turnout in city council elections months to respond to our public records vices, broadened curriculum, deep and Karen Macias (Del Amo ES), Jennifer McAfee (Dodson MS), Elgin Scott (Taper ES) and 50% voter turnout in U.S. presiden- requests on the district budget, yet duplici- systematic parent engagement, restorative ADULT & OCCUP ED: Matthew Kogan (Evans CAS) tial elections, an astounding 83% of our tously offers in the media to let us “audit practices, and collaborative leadership. members—almost 28,000—voted in our the district’s books.” We’re taking him It is this holistic program that will recruit BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Cheryl L. Ortega (Sub Unit) strike authorization. An overwhelming up on that. He attempts to intimidate our and retain families and students in district EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: Open seat 98% were “yes.” members with a memo to principals stating schools, that will stabilize and increase en- HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Mallorie Evans (Educational Audiologist) In an era in which unions are under something that is patently wrong, illegal, rollment, that will build a thriving public SPECIAL ED: Lucía Arias (Sub Unit) existential attack with the Janus Supreme and reflective of anti-union animus: the as- education system that appeals to parents SUBSTITUTES: Benny Madera Court decision, with many unions losing sertion that educators cannot discuss labor and is good for students, and that sustains members, UTLA has reached its highest issues on school grounds with parents.