Local teachers made their voices heard while in school — putting signs on their cars to show their displeasure with the Eureka Union School District (EUSD).  Eureka Union Teachers Association (EUTA) filed for impasse because the district refused to return to the bargaining table after negotiations failed.  Teachers overwhelmingly rejected the district’s latest offer because it did nothing to provide the resources and supports for teachers and students to succeed.

“EUTA is committed to negotiating a fair contract on behalf of Granite Bay teachers.  We have been working under an expired contract and we’ve been proposing contract language that would provide our teachers with the support and resources our students need to succeed. We want a contract that offers a competitive salary and a medical benefits cap that will help attract and keep the best teachers for our students,” said EUTA President Kelly Lewis.

A state mediator appointed by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) will now be brought in to assist the parties in reaching an agreement. EUTA declared impasse over salary for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years and health benefits for the 2018-2019 school year.  EUTA and the district have been working to negotiate contract language improvements on safety, special education issues, and other important contract language items.

“Despite EUSD receiving a 2.25% increase in ongoing revenue to its general fund in 2017-2018, and an additional 6.81% increase in ongoing revenue to its general fund this year, teachers have not received an increase since 2016-2017.  Since 2013-2014, the Local Control Funding Formula provided EUSD more than a 34% increase in ongoing revenue to its general fund,” said Lewis.

“Our teachers are committed to our students and our community and we are hoping a state mediator will be able to help us reach a fair agreement with the district,” she added.