Letters in Solidarity: When We Fight, We Win!

We just witnessed another example of the collective power of SDEA union educators joining SDUSD families and community allies to advocate for the schools our students deserve. Earlier this year, the San Diego Unified School Board trustees voted unanimously to lay off educators. The response from SDEA members was swift and clear. We know an injury to one is an injury to all and we demonstrated that by standing alongside our newest educators. 

Here’s how we responded:

• In March, we put up signs AGAINST layoffs and FOR our SDEA plan for strong schools on the doors of classrooms throughout the district.
• Right before Spring Break, hundreds of SDEA union educators, students, families and labor and community allies rallied at the school board meeting.
• In April, we passed out thousands of flyers to parents asking them to contact board members and demand that layoffs be rescinded.
• In May, we participated in site-based accountability sessions with laid off educators and school board members at Doyle, Linda Vista, Nipaquay and Oak Park elementary schools.

Every action we took in response to the unnecessary layoffs showed solidarity. SDUSD leadership once again saw that we won’t tolerate cuts to those who work closest with students. This was the organizing that moved the Superintendent and School Board to rescind the overwhelming majority of remaining layoff notices.

In addition to the significant layoff victory, last week the SDEA Bargaining Team reached an agreement with the District on limiting fall excessing for next school year. We all have experienced the destabilizing impact of fall excessing on our schools as teachers are moved involuntarily and our connections with students are broken. Our agreement requires that SDUSD plan ahead to staff schools instead of scrambling to move educators throughout the district two months into the school year.

These improvements to transfers would not have been possible without the tireless work of SDEA union educators, SDUSD families and community allies who came together to demand more stable schools. Please let families at your school know just how important their support was to get the District to agree to rescind layoff notices and limit fall excessing. When we have solidarity, we have power. Let’s use our power to protect our students, educators and schools!