Union Educators Overwhelmingly Approve New SDEA Contract in Historic Vote

Dear Amazing SDEA Union Members,

I hope this email finds you in high spirits and excited about the summer. We have some great news to share with you. SDEA educators have overwhelmingly voted in favor of our historic contract with the SDUSD! This contract and the organizing you did to win it is a testament to the collective power of our union and to our commitment to win the schools and communities our students deserve. Your organizing alongside SDUSD parents and community organizations made this happen! Despite a long process to reach this agreement, the board and superintendent responded to our collective demand for a fair contract and helped bring us to a standard-setting agreement that moves us in the right direction as a district. 

Over the past week, 5,405 of our fellow union members took part in the ratification vote, and I am delighted to announce that more than 98% of those who voted said “yes” to approve the new contract. This is possibly the strongest turn out for a ratification of a tentative agreement in the history of our union. Your overwhelming support sends a powerful message to our district and the wider community about our collective commitment to fight and win for our schools and students. 

A special thanks to the current and retired SDEA members who undertook the task of counting all of the ballots!

This new contract is a landmark achievement for all of us. After more than a year of intense negotiations and collective actions with our contract campaign, we have secured a comprehensive agreement that addresses crucial issues and fulfills our shared vision to Recover, Rebuild and Rise Together! Here are some of the highlights of the new contract that you just helped ratify:

1. A 15% pay increase that recognizes and values the hard work and dedication of our educators.
2. Extending maternity leave to 6 weeks to support our educators during a pivotal time in their lives. This matches the best maternity leave program amongst school districts throughout the county.
3. Continued fully paid healthcare coverage to ensure the well-being of our members and their families.
4. Increased staffing for elementary counselors and the protection of nursing services, enabling us to provide the necessary mental and physical health supports to our students.
5. Expanded elementary enrichment classes which enhance the educational experience for our youngest learners, while also providing additional preparation time for our elementary classroom teachers.
6. Addressing the workload concerns of special education staff with the alleviation of private school assessments from our plates

By approving this agreement, we have paved the way for attracting and retaining the educators our students need and deserve. Together, we’ve achieved one of the strongest union contracts in our state! If you have friends who are educators or working toward their credential, please tell them to come join us here in San Diego Unified! 

This agreement on our new contract now goes to the San Diego Unified School Board for approval and is expected to be ratified at its June 20 meeting.

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER!

Kyle Weinberg
SDEA President