UESF: Strike vote by March 31st

I just received the following email update from Dennis Kelly and the UESF:

UESF — Strike vote by March 31st

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Fed up with the slow pace of negotiations, Wednesday night the Assembly of the United Educators of San Francisco voted unanimously to set a strike vote by the end of March.

San Francisco teachers and paraprofessionals feel that they have given more than enough time for the negotiations to work. Before calling impasse on February 2nd, the union and the district had met 29 times over 366 days. Since reaching impasse, the mediation process has failed to bring the two sides closer together on substantive issues.

According to a recent study by the National Center for Policy Analysis, San Francisco teachers are the second lowest paid in the country, taking cost of living into consideration. But pay is not the only issue that educators are willing to strike over. School health and safety issues, including guarantees of schools free of rodents and pests, first aid kits in every classroom, and protection from assault are also key issues.

Equity for paraprofessionals is another strike issue. As a group, paraprofessionals do not have the same rights as other employees in the district, and in the city. They are denied basic due-process rights afforded other city workers. At least 77 career paraprofessionals will also be denied health care upon retirement.

The district has taken every opportunity to stall, delay, or otherwise prolong these negotiations. It is time for teachers and paraprofessionals to stand up for what is right for San Francisco schools. The ball is now in the district’s court. It is up to them to prevent a strike.

State mediation sessions have been scheduled for March 21, April 4 (half day), 10, and 11(half day).

In the coming days, look for a date and location for the strike authorization vote. If you have any questions, please contact the union office at 956-8373 or email action@uesf.org.