Richmond, California, teachers union pushes through concessions contract

[Hannah Bell]

On December 14, teachers in California’s West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) narrowly passed a contract that includes a pay freeze, larger class sizes and a sharp cut in health care benefits...

In August, teachers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, which the union... an affiliate of the California Teachers Association (CTA)—never called. In November, teachers rejected a very similar contract by a vote of 701-671. That “No” vote was only affirmed after the union acceded to teachers’ demands for a recount.

Only a month later, the UTR returned with a new agreement, and the contract vote was called on extremely short notice. The contract was pushed through in part due to a significant decline in the number of teachers voting. The 423 teachers who voted yes amount to less than one quarter of the membership.

Among the most punishing cuts for teachers is the elimination of fully paid health benefits for workers and retirees. Teachers retiring before July 2010 will still get full health care benefits. This provision is intended to push out more-experienced, higher-paid teachers, allowing the school district to bring in younger teachers at lower pay and fewer benefits.

For new teachers and those who do not retire by 2010, employer contribution to health care will be capped, forcing teachers to pay more out of pocket. This will set the stage for further reductions in benefits over the coming years. The younger teachers will also be left with a substantially higher workload.

The contract also includes a wage freeze, along with the elimination of five paydays per year—amounting to a 2.5 percent pay cut.

Class sizes will be increased, allowing for a “maximum class size average” of 38 students for most major subjects in grades 6 through 12. In lower grades, the maximum class size will be raised... to 31 students (from the current 20) for kindergarten through third grade and 33 students for fourth and fifth grades.


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/dec2009/educ-d19.shtml

[Hannah Bell]

1. must be the same unreccer who didn't like the article on high exec salaries at charters.

rust never sleeps.

[Mithreal]

3. I pushed the principal pay story to zero but couldn't get this one back

It's no secret there are anti-union and anti-public schools DU members. Fortunately their numbers are small.

Thanks for posting these stories.

[Hannah Bell]

2. The reason I think this article is interesting, btw, is the eerie similarity

between the tactics used to get rid of experienced unionized personnel & replace them with "Teach for America" types & newbies hired under different conditions--& identical tactics used in the auto industry -- & I'd bet in others.

Public unions are the last bastion of union power. And they seem to be participating in their own destruction.

[tonysam]

4. This is going on EVERYWHERE, Hannah

The destruction of public education is being accelerated because of so-called Democrats in the White House who despise its existence.

Teachers' unions are heavily on the take with the districts and regularly cut deals to help administrators. It's a horror story.