Organizing is the key to addressing teacher and staff shortages
A new report released this week by the Economic Policy Institute confirms what school communities across the state already know: there is a dire educator and school worker shortage which is severely impacting our ability to offer a quality education to our students.
The conclusion from the EPI report was straightforward and spot on: “To end the teacher shortage, we must address the two most pressing reasons for the shortage: the long-standing decline in the pay of teachers relative to other workers with a college degree and the high and increasing levels of stress public school teachers face.”
At the state level we continue to push to increase school funding, to invest in teacher training programs, and to support the expansion of mental health support for students and staff. But it is at the local level where these gains must be fought for and implemented.
And that is exactly what educators and school workers are doing – organizing to ensure that those resources are addressing the staffing shortages and other critical issues facing our schools.
UTLA members rally for their Beyond Recovery platform
After seven months of bargaining delays from LAUSD bosses, this past Monday thousands of UTLA educators, parents, students, and community allies rallied across Los Angeles to demand increased educator pay, small class sizes, fully staffed schools, and the resources our communities need.
The demands are part of the union’s community-led Beyond Recovery platform, a campaign UTLA launched seven months ago to transform education in the LAUSD.
“When you can’t even afford to live when you work, we got a problem y'all,” UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz said at a downtown rally reported by the LA Times. “This district has had seven whole months to address the educator shortage and to make sure that every student has a classroom teacher, every student has a school nurse, every student has a counselor and a librarian and mental health support.”
UESF kicks off campaign for schools our students deserve
Last Saturday San Francisco educators took the first step of many at the UESF contract campaign kickoff. Ongoing shortages of teachers and paraprofessionals, combined with an ongoing payroll fiasco, have pushed many school workers to the brink.
The kickoff event on Saturday was an opportunity for UESF members to connect, set priorities, and chart a course that will build the power necessary to win the schools San Francisco students deserve.
"The fifth largest economy in the world, and educators aren't getting paid what they're owed?” said UESF President Cassondra Curiel during her remarks at the event. “Our students deserve more than just a bare minimum from SFUSD. They deserve teachers and paraeducators who can give a hundred percent because they are well-paid and respected."
Part-time faculty at College of the Canyons strike this week for wage increase
Part-time faculty at the College of the Canyons took part in a ULP strike this week in their ongoing fight for a fair wage increase. Despite having an administration with some of the highest wages in the state, part-time faculty at the college are amongst the lowest paid.
“We have been in negotiations with the District for nearly two years and they have refused to bargain in good faith…” read a statement from AFT Local 6262, reported on KHTS AM 1220. “The District has left us no other alternative than to declare a ULP strike.”
For ongoing updates, and to see how you can support, follow AFT Local 6262 on Facebook.
