San Diego Unified teachers and classified employees demonstrated May 27 against the school district's demand that employees pay more for their health benefits despite recent sacrifices in pay that saved the district millions of dollars in health costs.
Following speeches in a central area, more than 3,000 demonstrators encircled the district offices, which occupy about one and a half city blocks, and picketed for more than an hour.
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Demonstrating at the district office are (left to right) SDEA members Sara Ellis, Liza Castellanos, Sandie Papac and Fran Knapp.
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With the show of solidarity, the 9,000-member San Diego Education Association is sending a clear message that teachers won't back down on the critical issue of protecting health benefits.
"We have done our part," says SDEA President Terry Pesta. "We have paid our fair share. The district cannot balance the budget on the backs of its employees."
SDEA and the district are ending the first year of a three-year contract in which educators contributed $14 million, in lieu of salary, toward the increased cost of benefits. Now the district wants to reopen negotiations to bargain health benefits. In order to protect their health care benefits, SDEA agreed to no salary increases during the first two years of the contract. SDEA and the California School Employees Association also negotiated a "shared responsibility" plan to cut health care costs during 2003 bargaining, resulting in about $8.1 million in additional health benefit savings for the district.
"They have clearly done their part by forgoing salary increases and by finding additional savings in health benefit costs," says CTA Board member Dianne K. Jones, who represents the San Diego area. Speaking at the rally, she told demonstrators that CTA is actively looking for solutions to teachers' health care concerns across the state.
Also showing up to support the teachers were reprensentatives of the Central Labor Council and other CTA and CSEA chapters. A lot of good energy was generated, say rally organizers.
"Educators feel betrayed again by Superintendent Alan Bersin, who has engaged in reckless spending for more than five years," says Pesta. "He has squandered millions on consultants and new layers of administration. Reducing our benefits will only make it harder to recruit and retain teachers in this community."
