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Speaking out on issues brought before the Council body are Camille Zombro from San Diego EA |
CTA's State Council of Education has voted to urge the management of San Francisco and Los Angeles to respect the rights of hotel workers in their struggles for fair contracts.
Health care benefits are a major issue in both areas.
More than 4,000 union workers in San Francisco were locked out of their jobs by 14 hotels after the hotel workers union, UNITE HERE Local 2, went out on strike against four hotels on Sept. 29.
Two days later, 10 other hotels responded by locking out their employees. After the two-week strike ended, all 14 hotels decided to continue locking out their workers until a new contract can be negotiated.
In Los Angeles, hotel workers have been without a contract for several months. Since July, employers at nine luxury hotels have forced 3,000 workers to pay a $40 monthly fee for health care.
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Aisha B. Blanchard-Young from Inglewood TA |
In making the motion, State Council's Civil Rights in Education Committee asked educators to support the hotel workers' demand for fair treatment, fair contracts, better health benefits, improved working conditions, respect and dignity.
"We encourage all members of CTA to stand with the hotel workers and walk the picket lines with them."
In other action at its October meeting, State Council:
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Brad Swopes from Simi EA (Ventura County) |
- Endorsed Reg Weaver for NEA president, Dennis Van Roekel for vice president and Michael Billarakis for Executive Committee for 2005-08.
- Voted to recommend three more candidates for the November election: Ira Ruskin (AD 21); Ferial Masry (AD 37); and Francine Busby (CD 50).
- Decided to send representatives to testify at legislative hearings on issues relating to English language learners.
- Took the position that the legal rights and responsibilities of marriage, civil union and/or domestic partnership belong to all adults, regardless of gender or sexual identification/orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, religion or socioeconomic status.
- Voted to recommend that legislation be considered to require the state to pay back over time the $500 million in Supplemental Benefit Maintenance Account contributions that were not made in the 2003 state budget.
- Advised members that SB 395 has been extended to Jan. 1, 2008.
