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Mt. Diablo Education Association members (top to bottom) Gary Marcus, Barbara Loften and Jenny Delgado were among those who published their mugshots on eBay to raise awareness of their financial situation and the district's unwillingness to do something about it |
By Dale Martin
Faced with a sharp increase in the cost of health care premiums and angered that the only thing they've received in the way of increased compensation since the 2002-03 school year is an "I'm Appreciated" coffee mug, frustrated members of the Mt. Diablo Education Association are using the mugs to make a statement.
While approximately 500 teachers returned their mugs to the trustees during a protest in November, a handful tried to sell their tokens of appreciation on eBay, the online auction website.
"While I've been lying awake nights worrying about how I can afford to take another $1,537 out of my paycheck to cover the increase in health care premiums, I had the idea of holding out my cup to the world on eBay in a sort of 'virtual panhandling' campaign," wrote teacher Gary Marcus in his online pitch. "If you can spare some change to help with my health benefits, I'd sure appreciate it if you could 'drop' it in the cup. Thanks for supporting my efforts to educate America's youth. The trustees of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District sure aren't offering me any help."
"I need money to cover my insurance premium increase now!" read part of a posting by teacher Natillie Petersen. She explained that district trustees chose not to give teachers raises last year even though "the state included a 3.99 percent cost-of-living increase in funding public schools."
Since teacher Barbara Loften found out how much the school board appreciates her, she wrote in her posting, the superintendent has received raises totaling 13.85 percent. "I bet he's feeling really appreciated!"
A veteran middle school teacher with 37 years of experience, Loften posed with her mug and a "See You at the Free Clinic" poster for the photo on her ad. "I live in Berkeley so I remember the free clinic. We'll all be at the free clinic if this keeps going on."
Other online pitches used photos of teachers holding placards that read "No Teacher Left Behind" and "Will Teach for Food."
Setting minimum bids ranging from 1 cent to $1,537, the teachers found few takers for their mugs, but they did reap sympathy from fellow educators across the country. One offered to buy all the mugs offered by the "deadbroketeachers" for $20 each.
Health care premiums increased from $9,529 to $11,066 on Jan. 1 for family coverage through the district's Kaiser HMO. The cost of coverage for singles is now $4,256 for the employee or $8,512 for the employee plus a spouse or partner. The maximum the district provides per employee on any plan is $3,982.
MDEA and the district have been at odds over the contract for more than a year, despite the 15 bargaining sessions that have taken place.
"We're still far apart on money issues," says MDEA President Mike Noce. "Right now, it looks like we're heading into impasse."
MDEA members have been keeping the heat on their district for the past several months. In addition to making hay with their mugs, teachers have taken to wearing black on Wednesdays and handing out informational leaflets before and after school. They've also attended board meetings and held rallies in support of their negotiations team at the conclusion of bargaining sessions.
"We're always trying to think of ways to move negotiations," says Loften. "Our members are so desperate for a raise."
Salaries in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, once the envy of neighboring districts, have slipped dramatically in the past few years as a result of a decision by members to put their health benefits on the salary schedule. Although it benefited most teachers at the time, salaries began to plummet as health benefits escalated. In fact, when their health stipend is "backed out" of the salary schedule, Mt. Diablo teachers earn $2,264 less than the average teacher in six nearby districts, including San Ramon, Antioch and Pittsburg.
"Teachers don't want to strike," says Loften. "But we can't go on this way."
Except for the tension over salaries and benefits, some teachers say things in the district are going well.
"Morale at our school is improving," says Marcus, a Meadow Homes Elementary School teacher with 12 years of experience. "We have a new principal and very dedicated teachers. But people are depressed that we have to spend so much time fighting for a decent salary and benefits package."
Noce worries that many of the district's newer teachers may be looking to go elsewhere.
"They've gone through BTSA and our teacher induction program," he says. "They've honed their skills, and now we may be losing them."
Petersen, who has taught for four years, confirms Noce's concerns.
"I'm still living at home and paying off my loans — and now I'll be paying considerably more out of pocket for my medical insurance," she says. "I'm definitely thinking about leaving the district."