This is a speech given in solidarity of Richmond Teachers at the Richmond Branch of the Human Rights/Human Relations Commission on Monday September 21, 2009
Human Rights Commission 9-21-09
For 16 months the teachers of West County have been working without a contract. The possibility of a strike looms over this labor dispute like a Kansas tornado. Not unlike a tornado a strike will reek havoc on the students, teachers and all of their families. However this strike is about more than wages, seniority rights and health benefits. This strike is for the children. Should the teachers fail to win concessions the children will suffer through increased class sizes for the next four years and possibly longer. With an already failing school system we as citizens of West County cannot allow this to happen. Children have a right to an education. This right is guaranteed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26. Should the teachers lose in the current contract dispute our children will suffer another, significant blow to their chances of obtaining a meaningful education.
The School District’s policies significantly impact our children’s self esteem and sense of possibility for their future. The way the school treats the child - whether there are books and supplies for that child, how crowded his or her classroom is and if the teacher has the time to address there particular problems - these are the things which communicate to the child whether he or she is valued, respected and cared for. If schools function merely as institutions to house our young people until they can legally leave, if teachers serve solely as babysitters and later as guards what hope is there for our children? What will be their fate?
This Commission must stand in solidarity with the West County School teachers and their struggle for a fair contract in general and their demand for no increase in class size in particular. For the school board to suggest there is no money for the teachers and children of West County while we live in the shadow of one of the largest corporations in the world is to accept institutional injustice and abdicate our obligation to the children, parents and teachers of West County. I suggest you immediately call for a special meeting to address this issue. I would suggest that the Commission call a press conference, issue a statement of support explicitly defining the school contract issue of as one of human rights. The failure to provide meaningful education is one critical way in which society creates social conditions which breed gangs, violence, drug addiction, despair and youth suicide. This Commission can be part of a process of re-conceptualizing issues of economic justice as part of the movement for basic human rights. The Commission could forward a declaration of support for the teachers and students to the Richmond City Council. The Commission should write a commentary in the Bay Area News Group papers supporting the teachers and students of the West County Unified School District. I know the Commission is made up of capable, caring and concerned citizens. I’m sure if the will is there you will be able to find ways to provide support for the children and their teachers. Thank you.
Charles T Smith
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Call to Action
We call on teachers, students, the community and workers, to actively support UTR's contract struggle and fight for quality education for the students in WCCUSD. The Progressive Teachers have reached out to the communities of West County and asked them to support their teachers.
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers # 1078 National Substitute Teacher Alliance (NSTA) and the Chair of the Berkeley Commission on Labor pledged that no substitute teachers from Berkeley and San Francisco will scab or cross our picket lines if there is a strike.
The University of California Berkeley Student Workers Action Team (SWAT), UC Graduate students, members of AFSCME Local 444 East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS), Oakland Education Association teachers, and workers from Berkeley joined us and distributed our community fliers in Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, Pinole, and El Cerrito on Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th.
Union members from the Transport Workers Solidarity Committee, ILWU Local 10, and ATU BART Local1555, have pledged to support our activities around our contract demands. We have joined with other unions in solidarity rallies against concessions, give backs, furloughs, and union busting. We must build a bottom- up grassroots movement for the working class so that we can fight back and win. We ask UTR members to join us in mobilizing the community and work with other unions who support our struggle.
The UTR Bargaining Team and the District met September 1st, the first meeting since April. Talks are set to continue on September 15th. Go to http://www.unitedteachersofrichmond.com to read about the recent negotiations.
We ask UTR members to participate in these labor events and actions:
On September 19, AFT 2121 and the San Francisco Labor Council will hold a Northern California meeting of all education unions and student groups at San Francisco State University to develop a united plan for action initiated by the United Public Workers Association (UPWA); UC Professors’ Call for a System Wide Walkout on September 24th to protest faculty furloughs, budget cuts, and student fee increases.; on Saturday, September 26th, the Defend Our Education Conference will be held at the San Francisco State University Student Union, Rosa Parks Room, at 1:00 PM.
UTR members should consider the impact of possible concessions on their income. Here are two examples. The number of furlough days (5) and term of the contract (3 years) are based on the recently rejected Local 1 tentative agreement.
The annual and daily rates are taken from Salary Schedule 8 for Teachers, Nurses, and Librarians.
A teacher in Range 1, Step 1
New hire with Credential Plus
Annual Salary, $40,297
Daily Rate, $217.82
5 furlough days =
$1089.10 reduced annual pay
For 3 years = $3,267.30 reduced pay A teacher in Range 2, Step 12,
Experienced
Annual Salary, $54,461
Daily rate, $294.38
5 furlough days =
$1471.90 reduced annual pay
For 3 years = $4,412.72 reduced pay
The potential reduced annual pay (5 furlough days) plus increased employee contributions for health insurance, particularly for dependents, mean that teachers will have less take-home pay to meet their families’ needs.
UTR members should follow the leadership of Local 1 rank and file members and reject a TA with concessions.
Contact Progressive Teachers @ 510-501-7347.
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers # 1078 National Substitute Teacher Alliance (NSTA) and the Chair of the Berkeley Commission on Labor pledged that no substitute teachers from Berkeley and San Francisco will scab or cross our picket lines if there is a strike.
The University of California Berkeley Student Workers Action Team (SWAT), UC Graduate students, members of AFSCME Local 444 East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS), Oakland Education Association teachers, and workers from Berkeley joined us and distributed our community fliers in Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, Pinole, and El Cerrito on Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30th.
Union members from the Transport Workers Solidarity Committee, ILWU Local 10, and ATU BART Local1555, have pledged to support our activities around our contract demands. We have joined with other unions in solidarity rallies against concessions, give backs, furloughs, and union busting. We must build a bottom- up grassroots movement for the working class so that we can fight back and win. We ask UTR members to join us in mobilizing the community and work with other unions who support our struggle.
The UTR Bargaining Team and the District met September 1st, the first meeting since April. Talks are set to continue on September 15th. Go to http://www.unitedteachersofrichmond.com to read about the recent negotiations.
We ask UTR members to participate in these labor events and actions:
On September 19, AFT 2121 and the San Francisco Labor Council will hold a Northern California meeting of all education unions and student groups at San Francisco State University to develop a united plan for action initiated by the United Public Workers Association (UPWA); UC Professors’ Call for a System Wide Walkout on September 24th to protest faculty furloughs, budget cuts, and student fee increases.; on Saturday, September 26th, the Defend Our Education Conference will be held at the San Francisco State University Student Union, Rosa Parks Room, at 1:00 PM.
UTR members should consider the impact of possible concessions on their income. Here are two examples. The number of furlough days (5) and term of the contract (3 years) are based on the recently rejected Local 1 tentative agreement.
The annual and daily rates are taken from Salary Schedule 8 for Teachers, Nurses, and Librarians.
A teacher in Range 1, Step 1
New hire with Credential Plus
Annual Salary, $40,297
Daily Rate, $217.82
5 furlough days =
$1089.10 reduced annual pay
For 3 years = $3,267.30 reduced pay A teacher in Range 2, Step 12,
Experienced
Annual Salary, $54,461
Daily rate, $294.38
5 furlough days =
$1471.90 reduced annual pay
For 3 years = $4,412.72 reduced pay
The potential reduced annual pay (5 furlough days) plus increased employee contributions for health insurance, particularly for dependents, mean that teachers will have less take-home pay to meet their families’ needs.
UTR members should follow the leadership of Local 1 rank and file members and reject a TA with concessions.
Contact Progressive Teachers @ 510-501-7347.
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