By Frank Wells
Last November's election was "special" in a different way for the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association. A teacher-backed change in the school board lineup has now yielded a contract settlement that calls for fully paid health benefits through this year. The chapter had been fighting for a settlement since the 2003-04 school year.
A tentative agreement had been reached in June, but concern over health benefits language led teachers to turn it down. In a move that was not without risk, the bargaining team was sent back to the table with the goal of protecting benefits while still maintaining earlier agreements. The team held its ground on the benefits issue, and the district refused to move. Contract talks were finally declared at impasse, and after sessions with a state mediator failed to break the stalemate, negotiations were certified for factfinding.
Throughout negotiations, the teachers garnered community support with rallies and outreach activities. "We set up a booth at as many events as we could," says PETA President Simone Zulu. "It was another way for the community to hear from us directly." With the help of a grant from the CTA Community Outreach Department, the chapter participated in weekly events as part of the city's summer festival.
While they were shoring up community support, the chapter decided a change was needed on the school board. The Political Action Committee helped find a candidate, former teacher Jeff Farrin, an administrator in another district. The chapter also backed two incumbents, Sheldon Epstein and Sandy Corrales.
Teachers were equally engaged in defeating Gov. Schwarzenegger's initiatives. "The special election helped us, because we were already getting organized for it early in the year, but it also made it harder because we had to focus on two major campaigns at once."
Election night was doubly sweet, however, when it became clear that not only had the governor's initiatives gone down in flames, but all three teacher-backed candidates had won their school board seats.
"The change in the attitude of the new board became obvious right away," says Zulu. "Even though we had a factfinding date scheduled, the board asked its team to come back to the table and try to reach an agreement so everyone could devote their full energies to our students." The final settlement protected health benefits and made contract gains for special education and combination class teachers.
"This was a long fight, but our members have come out of it stronger," says Zulu. "The board has become much more inclusive of PETA and other constituent groups in their decision-making, and the chapter is now better prepared to organize for the future."
