Frustrated teachers in San Jose and Saratoga have voted to allow their union to call a strike if necessary to resolve a longstanding bargaining crisis in the Campbell Union High School District.
Wearing "United We Stand" T-shirts as they cast their votes Aug. 26, teachers approved the strike authorization with 83 percent voting yes. The vote freed leaders of the Campbell Education Association to launch a strike at any time once a state-appointed factfinder issues a report on a possible settlement of the two-year-old crisis.
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Dean E. Vogel |
"If this district had any doubt about how frustrated teachers are here, this vote should erase those doubts," says Rachelle Burnside, co-president of the Campbell Education Association. "We don't want to strike, but we're at the end of our rope. This has dragged on for too long. Teachers, parents and the community deserve better."
The chapter represents 300 educators at Boynton, Branham, Del Mar, Leigh and Westmont high schools in San Jose and Prospect High in Saratoga.
CTA Secretary-Treasurer Dean E. Vogel told the teachers they have the full support of CTA and its resources in their fight. "You are not in this alone. It's you and CTA, arm in arm, side by side."
The teachers have several issues they would like to see addressed in the 2001-02 contract settlement:
- They want a class size cap of 32 students per room. Last year, Westmont High had 47 students in one calculus class and 43 in geometry; Branham had 40 students in an English honors class; and Leigh High had 38 in a biology class.
- They want a salary increase of 5.5 percent instead of the 2.8 percent offered by the district.
- They want a limit on out-of-pocket payments for health insurance. While five neighboring districts cover all the costs of health benefits, the Campbell district not only makes teachers pay part of the premiums, but wants to increase their share.
Mike Myslinski