S.O.S.! Community & Teachers Say NO to School Closures

There is money:
• We have taxpayers money for wars but none for education
• Large corporations like Chevron make billions in profit but fail to support our community

We demand quality education for all students
• Say No to school closures to bailout the District
• Say No to crowded classrooms
• Keep experienced teachers and support new ones

We must come together, community, parents, and teachers, and organize against anything that hurts students and their future.

What can you do?
Come to the school board meetings
And let your voice be heard.
***Rally*** before the school board meeting on December 10 at 5:00 PM at Nicholl Park
(on Macdonald Ave.) We will then march
to the school board meeting.

December 10th, January 7th and 21st February 4th All meetings held at De Jean Middle School, 3400 MacDonald Ave at 6:30 PM.

Progressive Teachers of UTR: Contact Margaret Browne, 510 672-1898, 510 234-3957, mtsustak@sonic.net, Wendy Gonzalez, 510 332-9320, wendy_gonzalez@hotmail.com

Community Alert !

WCCUSD teachers have been working without a contract since July1, 2008. UTR and the District are in negotiations for a new contract. So far, the District has demanded these giveaways from teachers.

ELIMINATE secondary class size maximums
ELIMINATE secondary student-counselor ratios
ELIMINATE staffing provisions for libraries
ELIMINATE maximum and minimum English Learner class sizes

What do these giveaways mean for our students?

40, 50, 60 students in middle and high school class rooms

No counselors to advise students about course selections to meet graduation requirements, A – G, for the California University system and help them with completing personal statements for college/university applications

No librarians to help students develop research and technological skills needed to become literate 21st century citizens

What can you do to support your students?

Join us in a Day of Action at the WCCUSD School Board meeting on Wednesday November 19 and tell the board that students are our priority. We will not support givebacks that destroy our students’ learning environment.
Our students are our first priority and should be the districts.


Los maestros del WCCUSD han estado trabajando sin un contrato desde el 1de Julio del 2008. El sindicato de maestros (UTR) y el distrito escolar estan en negociaciones para un contrato nuevo. Hasta ahora el distrito ha demandado lo siguiente:

ELIMINAR números máximos en las clases secundarias
ELIMINAR proporciones de consejeros y estudiantes en las escuelas secundarias
ELIMINAR provisiones de personal en las bibliotecas escolares
ELIMINAR los números máximos y mínimos en clases de estudiantes que son apréndices de inglés.

¿Qué se significa estas eliminaciones para nuestros estudiantes?

40, 50, 60 estudiantes en las clases secundarias.

No habrá consejeros para guiar a los estudiantes sobre cuales cursos deben tomar; los requisitos A – G, para ser elegibles para sistema del la Universidad de California, o para ayudarlos a completar las aplicaciones o ensayos personales para la universidad.

No habrá bibliotecarios para ayudar a los estudiantes a desarrollar destrezas de investigación o técnicas que se necesita para ser personas competitivas en el siglo 21.

Unensen con nosotros en le día de acción en la junta de la mesa directiva del distrito escolar el Miércoles, 19 de noviembre y díganles a la mesa que los estudiantes deben ser nuestra prioridad. No vamos a apoyar las eliminaciones que destruyen el ambiente de aprendizaje de nuestros estudiantes .
¡NUESTROS ESTUDIANTES SON NUESTRA PRIORIDAD Y TAMBIEN DEBE SER LA PRIORIDAD DEL DISTRITO!

¿Que pueden hacer para apoyar a nuestros estudiantes?

A New Tone

Organizing what’s at Stake


Apparently, the theme of the October rep council was unity and organizing. The message from the leadership was unity within the local. According to Webster’s dictionary, unity is the state of being one; oneness, a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one. I have to say that all the organizing activities have come from the organizing committee and dictated to us. These activities have been extremely narrow and modest. There is too much at stake and we are not doing enough. We need to do more! I did express my concerns with the president prior to this rep council meeting.

At the October rep council meeting was an organizing activity under committee reports. Rick Willis our CTA Executive Director conducted a “Rep Council Organizing Conversation” with the rep members. We broke up into small groups and addressed two questions about organizing strategies... However, the responses were not brought back to the body for discussion. Once again, leadership missed an opportunity to listen to rep council members input on organizing or anything else. I went to the president and expressed my frustration with the format of this information gathering activity.

.We need to reach out to activist parents who are our potential allies and advocates. Dr. Harter has the ear of our activist parents. I feel we are wasting precious time by not stepping up our out reach effort to the communities. Use resources to mobilize communities.

UTR needs to boost its image, change our tone, be visible and educate the community about classroom issues. Focus grassroots energies on activist organizing activities that promote personal commitment to achieve victory in bargaining. For example, Saturday morning several of us leafleted the District’s Parent Conference Training and within one hour we made contact with over 100 parents.

The last thing we can afford is concessions. We are headed down that road if we don't reach out to build a base of support in the communities. The communities don't realize what goes on in the classroom. It is our responsibility to strike up that conversation. They need to hear our story, issues and better understand what happens to their students. Through my lens the stakes haven’t been higher than they are right now in this economic crisis.

Diane Brown

National Education 87th Representative Assembly Convention 2008 Final Recap

Thank you for electing me as one of your delegates to the 146th National Education Association (NEA) Annual Meeting held July 1-July 6. Delegates’ representing the United Teachers of Richmond was Mel Collins, Hadjah McLeod (successor delegate), Pixie Hayward Schickele, Terri Jackson, Debora Willis, and Robert Ellis. NEA delegates tackled a range of tough issues and policy on the convention floor at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC, July-3-6. Delegates are the primary legislative and policymaking body of the National Education Association.

President Reg Weaver opened the first day of the 87th Representative Assembly (RA), with his final keynote address to over 12,000 delegates and guests. President, Weaver led the National Education Association for six years. Weaver highlighted the need for change in education and in the nation and looked ahead to the decisive 2008 elections. The theme for this 2008 Annual Meeting is Team NEA: Commitment; Courage; Power.

Through the Parliamentary process we took action on New Business Items, Resolutions, and Amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, and Standing Rules, and Legislative Amendments.

The First Day of the RA – California Activists Stand Strong on Health Care

On the first day of business the NEA Board of Directors moved (NBI) NEW BUSINESS ITEM A. This NBI is NEA’s basic policies on both the importance of health care coverage and the urgent need for health reform that are set forth in NEA Resolutions and in the NEA Legislative Program.

Health care is a primary concern in California, in the country and the nation. When I saw NBI A, I immediately began collaborating with my sisters and brothers in the Oakland Education Association and in our Caucuses to develop language to amend this NBI in support of health care reform.

Delegates from New Jersey also amended the language by addition on the floor of the RA. I submitted several changes to the appropriate committee and was waiting to speak on the floor of the RA. When I was recognized by the chair, I was asked if I would be willing to postpone until later because several changes were being proposed, I concurred. This postponement was significant and is worth taking the time to tell what happen in the interim.

During the postponement, I was asked to meet with NEA Staff and board member. I requested Bill Balderston from the Oakland Education Association meet with us. Balderston is also the issues chair of our Peace and Justice Caucus. He was also instrumental in working with me to craft the amendments that were being proposed.

We informed members of the NEA staff and board that our focus was universal single-payer health care. Delegates and members of the Peace and Justice Caucus endorsed our efforts. Some NEA members from California and in other states believe that NEA and its resources would play a major role and make an impact in the universal health care reform debate and in achieving health care coverage and single-payer health care for all. We urged NEA to support our amendments and California in its efforts and lead the way to real universal single payer health care reform for all. We educated them on the work that was being done in California on this issue. Further, single-payer health care reform would provide access for all regardless of employment status. Single-payer health care is a means of controlling health cost inflation. Currently 30% of every health care dollar is spent on administrative overhead, high administrative executive salaries, advertising and share holder benefits.

NEA staff informed us that the board had committed and approved major funding and resources that directed staff to join a coalition of unions and organizations in a campaign to achieve universal health care reform. NEA had conducted polling among NEA members and the results determined that the campaign needed to have more flexibility working with diverse groups within a coalition. They also wanted to let us know that NEA believes that comprehensive affordable health care coverage can best be achieved through a single-payer health care system. Staff agreed to come to the Peace and Justice Caucus to clarify issues, provide additional information on NEA’s campaign and answer questions. We negotiated and agreed on proposed language changes.

The next session of the RA, I moved to amend NEW BUSINESS ITEM A. Early in the debate the NBI was referred to a NEA committee. However, talks continued with delegates from Wisconsin, who felt that the NBI should not be referred and the vote to refer was without merit. In a subsequent meeting the delegate from Wisconsin joined the debate with NEA staff and NBI A was replaced by NEW BUSINESS ITEM 75. A compromise and agreement was reached and new business item 75 was adopted by the Representative Assembly delegates.

Although we didn’t get everything we wanted, through our efforts, we raised an awareness and expectation that health care reform for all is the goal. We also will hold NEA staff to their commitment to inform the Peace and Justice Caucus on every step of the campaign to achieve health care reform for all. We will stay in touch. I want to thank Margaret Browne who was not a delegate attending the RA for her email contributions and all the other delegates and supporters who worked collectively with Bill Balderston and me.

Top Five NEW BUSINESS ITEMS:

NBI 7 – NEA review and disseminate research and best practices for dropout prevention…
NBI 8 – NEA affirms longstanding commitment to Resolution B-20, the Education of Refugee and Undocumented Children and Children of Undocumented Immigrants…students who have graduated from U.S. high schools but have no paths to citizenship because their parents are undocumented.
NBI 16 – NEA and its affiliates will disseminate existing data and analysis demonstrating the relationship of socioeconomic status and per pupil funding to standardized test scores…strive to counter the myth that teachers and the educational establishment alone can overcome social, economic, health and other barriers to equal educational opportunity in our society.
NBI – 27 The NEA will send a letter urging Congress to block attempts by the Bush administration to commit the U.S. to a permanent military presence in Iraq.
NBI – 28 NEA will encourage its local affiliates to collaborate with their local governing boards to pass a proclamation denouncing the provision of ESEA so called “No Child Left Behind.” This proclamation would be developed collaboratively between the local union and governing board….

New Association Leadership:

Your newly elected leadership is President-elect, Dennis Van Roekel; Vice President-elect Lily Eskelsen; and Secretary-Treasurer-elect Becky Pringle. Princess Moss of Virginia and Len Paolillo of Massachusetts won seats on the Executive Committee.

Upcoming Event:

Next year the NEA Representative Assembly will be held in San Diego, California July 1-6, 2009.

PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT RESULTS:
Delegates recommend Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States
Results Passed Yes 6,841 79.75% No 1,737 20.25%

Other Activities

 Governor Mike Easley of North Carolina was presented with its first America's Greatest Education Governor award
 NEA gave a tribute to Barbara Morgan an elementary school teacher and a space shuttle Endeavor Astronaut from Idaho and received the 2008 Friend of Education Award
 Laura Vernon a school safety assistant from Milwaukee received the 2008 Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year
 Mohamed El-Khawas, president from the University of the District of Columbia Faculty Association, and Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton, welcomed the delegates to the city
 Members attended one or more of 37 special interest caucuses, tributes to outgoing President, Reg Weaver

In Solidarity,
Diane Brown

UTR Contract Bargaining Proposal by Nathan Sampson

Some personal opinions on the recent UTR initial contract bargaining proposal to the West Contra Costa Unified School District.

My name is Nathan Samson. I currently teach Economics and U.S. Government at De Anza High School to seniors. This is my third year in the district, and my second full year at De Anza. I am transferring to El Cerrito High next school year, which means I will still be a member of the UTR. The following is a personal reflection on the initial bargaining offer that UTR proposed to the district.

I found out about the proposal through the newsletter or bargaining alert that the UTR produces. Sometimes, war between the classes may be hidden from sight, because the working class is simply not in motion, is not that militant, and has not taken action on a mass scale independently from its bureaucratic union leaders and parties that represent the rich and powerful, like the Democrats and Republicans. But that does not mean that class war has disappeared. And it certainly doesn't mean that a harmony between capital and labor exists. Far from it. If that were so, we would not be having contract negotiations with our employer at the present time.

In fact, the class interests of the workers are opposed to the class interests of the bosses or employers, whether public or private. The idea is a simple one and should guide our actions during contract negotiations. That is not the case with the current leaders of the UTR or the CTA. Take the wording of the proposal, for instance. “The United Teachers of Richmond proposes that the terms and conditions set forth in the current collective bargaining agreement be extended . . . with a term commencing on July 1, 2008 and expiring on June 30, 2009” This proposal has no militancy, no fight in it, whatsoever. It is flat and limp. They put forward three reasons that such a proposal is appropriate.

First, they assert that “ The Governor’s current budget proposal still guts education funding for our District.” My goodness. How far do we want to give in to the state? This is a green light for the state to take away the many gains or provisions in our current contract. We are implying that it is an accomplished fact that the state is cutting money to education in the current budget and we are helpless to do anything about it. I get the feeling from the leadership’s argument that they are compromising with the state to avoid a struggle by the rank and file of the UTR against the state. And we only have 2000 dollars in our strike fund.

The leadership is not preparing for struggle, because their whole outlook and strategy is geared towards compromise and working with the powers that be. This line of reasoning sends the message that the UTR is willing to accommodate the needs of the state. It is a tacit concession of weakness. Thus, we are bargaining from a position of weakness, not one of strength.

The UTR is very contradictory, because they have asked us to write our state reps and Senators to denounce the cuts to education. The UTR also says that the latest proposal “ would prevent any cost-shifting on health insurance for next year. That would give us time to see what happens with state funding and our parcel tax.”

We know that in industry after industry the bosses have gone after health care. Our industry is no exception. The district has been up front about not extending health care benefits, and has proposed to increase the co-pay each time we visit the doctor. Now that our union has conceded that education budget cuts are inevitable, that will give the go-ahead to the state to take away our health benefits.

Finally, the leadership of the UTR says that “A successful parcel-tax measure that provides additional resources would help make a successful settlement possible.” The vote on the parcel tax won't happen until November. That means that it is likely we will not have a settlement until then. We will be working without a contract for 5 long months. And what if it passes. That is no guarantee that the state would give us what we want or ask for, especially with the historic budget cuts to education that have been proposed.

In addition, the leadership of the UTR wants the parcel tax to pass in its current form, that is, the same dollar amount to be taxed on property. I forget the exact figure. In other words, they are not asking for a tax increase. Rick Willis, UTR Chief Negotiator, said so at the last UTR Rep Council meeting. Why? Because of the proposed budget cuts and the tough economic situation. Additional resources! I don't think so. It would be the same amount of funding. What gives? I smell givebacks.

We have put ourselves in a position of weakness. I do not see us bargaining from a position of strength with the current proposal. I have a strong feeling the district is going to reject it, because they will smell weakness in it.

Yours,
In Struggle,
Nathan

Resolution - Reforming United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) Election Process Submitted by Diane Brown and Margaret Browne, UTR Members

http://Resolution1 Whereas, the Progressive Teachers of the United Teachers of Richmond (UTR)
2 have been organizing to reform our election procedures to use a Scantron ballot
3 and machine, and current UTR elections do not guarantee one-person, one vote
4 Whereas, the members do not control their ballots:
5 School site representatives (shop stewards) distribute ballots
6 Conduct elections, return the marked ballots to UTR to be hand-counted
7 Whereas, The Progressive Teachers used the initiative guidelines in the UTR,
8 the California Teachers Association (CTA) Standing Rules:
9 45 days to gather signatures of at least 10% of active members
10 5 days for the chapter president to verify the signatures, put the initiative
11 Before the members for a vote
12 Whereas, at the February UTR Representative Council meeting, Don Dawson,
13 the CTA Board of Directors member, informed representatives that CTA’s board
14 voted in July 2006 to change the initiative guidelines and that all CTA
15 affiliates must comply, the changed guidelines are:
16 15 calendar days to gather signatures of 60 percent of active members
17 30 days for the chapter president to verify signatures
18 Whereas, the California Teachers Association, National Education Association,
19 the United Educators of San Francisco and other affiliates use
20 an election machine in their election and balloting process,
21 Therefore be it resolved, that the Progressive Teachers of UTR declare its
22 opposition to the changed guidelines and that CTA has taken away members’
23 right to an initiative, and
24 Be it further resolved, this is democracy for the few, the labor aristocracy, not
25 the many, rank-and-file teachers, and
26 Be it finally resolved, the Progressive Teachers of UTR continue to inform
27 the members of (UTR), United Teachers of Richmond about the initiative, and
28 urge them to support a fair election process for the rank-and-file teachers, and
29 this resolution is recorded and submitted for the minutes of the April 30, 2008
30 UTR Representative Council meeting.

Open Letter to the UTR Bargaining Team

Dear Colleagues:

This letter is the product of conversations among several concerned UTR members, Site Reps and rank-and-file members alike. We are voicing the following priorities and expectations to the UTR Bargaining Team. Our prime message is "No Givebacks!"

The following is what we hope to see in a forthcoming contract agreement:
Maintain current salary schedule + COLA
Full coverage for Kaiser and Blue
Shield
Allowance for each teacher toward out-of-pocket classroom
expenses
Maintain class size limits without averages

Members have also requested:
Names of bargaining team members
(some members have requested email addresses.)
Detailed email updates on bargaining
Email bargaining updates during the summer
Bargaining is not beginning until late May, when summer vacation is about to begin.
More lead time to digest information on tentative agreement before vote

People are most accountable when they are in contact with those they are representing. We feel that it is vital for the Bargaining Team to maintain communication with the unit members.


Note: We are seeking advocacy from the UTR Bargaining Team and will continue circulation of the open letter to gain support from the membership. To request a letter contact Diane Brown at diamel@aol.com

The Progressive Teachers of UTR Change Newsletter #1 April, 2008

The results of the UTR Elections have been posted. Over three hundred-fifty members voted for the Progressive Teachers platform for change. We thank you for your support. We shall continue our campaign for change and need your involvement.

Action Item Negotiations

Our contract expires on June 30th. Members should be informed of the following:

Who is on the UTR negotiating team?
Has our team begun to bargain with the District?
What are our demands at the bargaining table?

Parcel Tax:

The consultant who conducted polling for the District reported their findings at the April 16 WCCUSD School Board meeting. The report revealed that the community will support the renewal of the current parcel tax through 2009. A parcel tax requires 2/3 of votes cast in order to pass.

In the last transfer round the district advertised positions for most counselors as one year only. Counselors and librarians are members of our local who are paid through parcel tax monies. Support your colleagues and actively work to pass the parcel tax


What can you do?

• Attend and actively participate at the rep council meetings
• Support changing the ratification process
• Talk to the Executive Board members elected to serve you
• Support the renewal of the Parcel Tax
• Attend WCCUSD Board meetings and make your voice heard
• Network and educate your colleagues on the issues at other sites
• Share the Progressive Teachers blog with your colleague

Don't agonize, Organize!

"Open Letter"

Dear Colleagues:

The Progressive Teachers ask members to unite with us to elect a new UTR Leadership and Executive Board that will work for a democratic, inclusive, member-centered union. Electing progressive new leadership can make all the difference in UTR in the March 2008 election. In the last election, we received about 40% of the overall vote. With more supporters we could change our union to be united, not divided.

This is the record of the Progressive Teachers. Since last August we
have:

Initiated the UTR election reform process for a Scantron ballot and
vote
Submitted language for bylaw changes for transparency, term
limits for
officers, and bargaining team members
Presented
motions at Rep Council for a strike authorization vote,
movement discussion
with the Oakland and Tulare teachers on grassroots
organizing against NCLB,
changing the UTR Candidates' Forum to a debate,
question, and answer format,
and training in parliamentary procedures for all
interested
members
Conducted public forums on NCLB and Health Care
issues
Made a presentation on Single Payer Health Care SB840 at the
WCCUSD
School Board meeting in December 2007
Visited 16 schools
since September 2007 to talk with members about
their concerns and working
conditions at their sites

Members need to learn about the history and political outlook of any candidate for office in our union and judge them on their record of service to members. Candidates should not be elected to office merely on the bases of longevity, reputation, and name recognition. To that end we have planned several forums that we invite members to participate in.

A sure way to turn our union around and change the course in UTR is to vote for Progressive Teacher activists who have in a public, principled way opposed fear, barriers, doubt, secrecy, and undemocratic practices. It has been said, "If you keep on doing what you're doing you will keep getting what you're getting." Our members have told us that they want change and we're asking members to have the courage to fight back and vote for Progressive Teacher candidates. It's our union! Membership is about ownership!

Contact information: diamel@aol.com, mtsustak@sonic.net, eswabeck@yahoo.com, visit, http://progressiveteachers.blogspot.com

In Unity