By Mike Myslinski
|
|
|
San Juan teachers picket outside district offices on the first day of mediation. In addition to forcing teachers to take furloughs, the district is increasing health plan co-pays |
Angry that San Juan Unified School District officials imposed furlough days on educators in order to claim they had a "balanced" budget, teachers are fighting back and warning other CTA chapters about this tactic.
"I would think that every CTA chapter should be watching us," says Nancy Waltz, president of the 2,800-member San Juan Teachers Association. "What this district did is unconscionable."
In January, the chapter will seek to overturn the furloughs by arguing before the state Public Employment Relations Board that unilaterally imposing them was illegal. In what amounts to steep cuts in pay for educators, the district in June forced classroom teachers to accept three furlough days this school year — five for librarians and counselors. The district then claimed it had a balanced budget, says Waltz.
In addition, the 48,000-student district located in Sacramento County added insult to injury by imposing an increase in employee health benefit co-payments.
"I have never seen anything like this in my 30-year career," says Waltz of the forced furloughs and benefits cost increase.
The San Juan teachers' contract expired June 30, leading quickly to an impasse in bargaining and meetings with a state mediator. Five more mediation sessions are scheduled for late November and December.
In a show of solidarity, more than 500 San Juan educators turned out for picketing outside the district's offices on Oct. 25, the first day of mediation.
Teachers are continuing a "work to rule" protest that began in September, where most have refused to perform many unpaid, volunteer activities in favor of following only the letter of their contract and district rules.
"The behavior by the school board has disrespected and devalued our bargaining unit members and is no longer acceptable," says Waltz. "We are forced to rise up. The time for meaningful negotiations is now."
