Letters in Solidarity - SDEA union educators show up and show out!

SDEA Union Educators Show Up and Show Out!

In March, SDEA educators showed up and showed out. On March 8, over 140 SDEA site and program leaders convened in the SDEA union hall and felt the power of union solidarity. Our unity makes us stronger, inspires our collective action and propels positive change. This motivates us to persist in taking action to advocate for our fellow educators, our students, our profession and for public education.  

After months of the District ignoring and disrespecting our bargaining demands, we mobilized again. The week of March 13-17, we picketed at over 140 schools. We demonstrated in support of our Recover, Rebuild and Rise Together platform in the rain. We showed up in all corners of San Diego for 5 days straight. We were joined by parents, students, media, community organizations and our CSEA union siblings. We stood together to demand a fair contract that prioritizes educators and the students we serve in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

Our collective efforts are working. After hearing about SDEA’s plans to picket, the district made proposals on pay and elementary prep time. After 4,800 SDEA members took to the streets, the district made proposals on TK staffing and secondary PE class size. But we aren’t done fighting yet! The district said no to our demands to have a full-time counselor at every elementary school and a full-time nurse at every high school. They said no to our demand to lower class size in TK-5. They continue to ignore our demand for expanded parental leave. 

In response, we must continue to demonstrate our resolve until the district uses its historic funding to pay educators a wage that allows us to live in the communities we teach in. The district’s funding for this school year and next school year is projected to increase by over 20%. While the SDEA has proposed an increase of 19.25%, the district is offering 9%. This disparity between the district’s funding and their proposals at the bargaining table is disrespectful to educators. And therefore, is it imperative to keep up the fight until we win working and learning conditions that attract and retain the highest quality educators in our district. 

In April, we are showing up again. On April 18 and 19, SDEA members will be holding district leadership accountable to agree to a contract that will bring about the schools our students deserve. SDUSD Board Trustees will be in our union hall to listen to our feedback about the need to implement our bargaining platform. This is an opportunity for our elected school board trustees to hear how they can support educators and the students they were elected to represent. Register to attend one of the accountability sessions here. Let’s pack the auditorium and show the district that SDEA union educators are an organized hive that should not be taken lightly!