In early December, SDEA members across the District took part in an unprecedented action. Members at nearly 130 sites and programs reviewed and discussed our proposed bargaining platform before holding a secret ballot vote to support or reject the platform.
SDEA members voted overwhelmingly to support the SDEA bargaining platform for contract bargaining that starts in January. 99.3% of the nearly 3000 members who voted said yes to:
MAKE SPECIAL EDUCATION WORK – Schools need the resources to educate all of our students, including moderate/severe caseload limits and enough staff to meet IEP requirements.
MORE COUNSELORS & NURSES—NO CUTS TO PSYCHOLOGISTS – Classrooms will be safer for our students and we can curb behavior issues with more counselors and nurses, and no cuts to psychologists.
SMALLER ELEMENTARY CLASS SIZE – In 2012, SDEA members won the lowest secondary class size limit of large, urban school districts in California. Now it’s time to do the same for elementary.
DEFEND THE TEACHING PROFESSION – There’s a nationwide shortage of teachers. We need competitive pay and fully-paid family healthcare benefits to attract the best and brightest to our profession – and to keep us.
RESPECT EDUCATORS’ RIGHTS – When SDUSD doesn’t respect our rights, it hurts not just educators, but our schools, too. We demand that Superintendent Marten and her administration respect our rights, resolve grievances, and stop unfair labor practices.
FUND OUR FUTURE – California is the richest state in the nation but ranks 41st in per student funding. The money is here to fund our future. Funding public education needs to be a priority
This platform is based on bargaining input sessions conducted by member leaders, just like you, at most schools in 2019.
Because of this vote, when we sit down at the bargaining table this month, Superintendent Marten’s team will know that these aren’t just the demands of a handful of union members on the bargaining team. Instead, they’ll know that these are the demands of our whole union. SDEA members will have to fight hard if we want to win big changes, and this is exactly the right way to start!
The new round of bargaining, for our next contract, will begin on January 23, 2020.
Congratulations to all of the ARs and member leaders who made bargaining input sessions and this bargaining vote happen at your schools. You make your union strong!
