In a press release, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) wrote Friday afternoon that they had reached an agreement with teachers “on a new contract that provides a total compensation increase of 14%—an 11% on-going salary increase with a one-time 3% bonus for educators.” This comes after OUSD teachers and other staff began striking last week. According to the release, smaller class sizes will also be a part of the agreement—a huge win for students and teachers alike.
It’s important to realize that the OUSD was offering up only 5% in salary increase and saying that their hands were tied. It’s interesting how a labor strike was able to untie their hands.
As the strike wore on, more professionals—including surrounding school districts’ educators—showed their support for the Oakland teachers by joining various picket lines and rallies. Union reps told teachers to stand strong earlier today, as a resolution came into focus.
This is a developing story.
The Oakland Education Association (OEA) has released a PDF of the tentative agreement that the teachers’ union will be voting on tomorrow. According to their announcement, besides the wage increases and lower class sizes, the union was able to negotiate:
- A five month moratorium on school closures to allow more community input, and hopefully, with the success of this strike more organization and enthusiasm in that input process.
- Additional hirings of student support personnel like psychologists, counselors, and speech pathologists.
- A commitment to introduce a moratorium on building new charter schools. This would be the first step by the school board to bring about possible state legislation changing a mostly unregulated charter school industry that continues to use big private money to push through schools that sap public school resources.
Sunday, Mar 3, 2019 · 5:22:07 PM +00:00
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Walter Einenkel
Oakland teachers are set to vote on the contract today. However, many teachers are not as enthusiastic about the deal that was struck on Friday. Sending a letter out to parents of OUSD students, teachers thanked them for their continuing support but cautioned that there were many problems, specifically ones that directly affect students.
Teachers pointed out that nothing in the contract addresses school nurses, special education caps, academic counselors, or school closures. They also feel that the bolded points in the deal cover up much more problematic cuts being made.
Many of us feel that the publicized 11% raise (5% over the first two years and 6% at the end of the fourth year) is being used as a divisive wedge within the district to defund student programs that increase equity and serve our highest-need students (such as Restorative Justice, APISA, and AAMA, and foster care youth programs, among others). We did not want to be bought off at the expense of everyone else.
Whether or not the union decides today to sign onto the contract, continue the strike, or some combination of continued negotiation, remains to be seen.