Columbian: Clark College faculty on strike

Classes at Clark College in Vancouver, WA were cancelled today as the 400+-member Association for Higher Education launched a strike following 15 months of negotiations that have failed to result in a contract. The Columbian reports that the major sticking point seems to center around wages for part-time faculty.

The union says that up until recently, the college's offers for part-timers have been far too little, one adjunct faculty reported making only $26,500/year with a full course load, while the most recent offer would roll out too slowly.

End to Strike in Seattle

On Sunday, members of the Seattle Education Association voted to end their strike action and ratify a new contract with the Seattle School District. As part of the new contract, teachers will receive wage increases and students receive a guaranteed minimum of thirty minutes of recess.

Why are School Librarians on Strike in Seattle?

The Seattle Education Association collective bargaining unit consists of classroom teachers, librarians, counselors, speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and instructional assistants. SEA, plus its affiliate school office workers’ union, Seattle Association of Educational Office Professionals (SAEOP) negotiate contracts together with the administration of Seattle Public Schools.  SAEOP members have a no-strike clause in their contract, so they are not on strike, but they did vote in support of the strike.

Negotiations began in May 2015.  SEA/SAEOP’s negotiating team presented a list of demands:  pay; a fair evaluation process; reasonable testing;workload relief; equity for students in areas of the opportunity gap, discipline, and recess at elementary schools.

Throughout the summer, SPS negotiators demanded one thing: an increase in the workday without an increase in pay.

Where do negotiations stand now?

Recess – After the strike vote on Sept. 3, SPS agreed on 30 minutes of recess at all elementary schools.  The amount of recess children had varied school-to-school from 15 minutes to 45 minutes.  The lesser amount was mostly at schools in poorer neighborhoods.

Substitute teachers – Some of the demands concerning substitutes have been agreed to.

Negotiations have resumed today, Sept. 12.  SEA members are prepared to be on picket lines on Monday.

What are the sticking points?

Pay – SPS negotiators have proposed for classified staff 8.95% increase over three years (2%, 3.2%, 3.75%).  For certificated staff SPS proposes 2%, 3.2%, and 4%.  However, the third year for certificated staff also includes a 4.8 increase in our workday.  So, the actual pay proposal is 2%, 3.2%, and -.8%.  Keep in mind that teachers, librarians, counselors, etc. work well beyond their contracted student-contact hours.  A speed-up is a speed-up whether on the factory floor or in the classroom – more work for no extra pay.  SEA proposed a two-year contract with 5% and 5.5%, along with the establishment of a labor/management committee to investigate lengthening student-contact hours.  SPS refused.

Equity – SPS has offered to “pilot” equity programs in half-a-dozen schools.  The union wants equity issues addressed at every school in Seattle.

Evaluations – SEA wants a system of fair evaluation, and has proposed an evaluation review panel to handle cases in which a teacher/staff member believes they’ve been unfairly evaluated.Fairness in evaluations varies tremendously, not just between schools, but within schools.Another element of inequity is that student test scores on high-stakes standardized tests are used in the evaluations of teachers in tested subject areas.

Reasonable testing – In some schools the library is closed for as long as 2 months because of testing.  Too much time is spent on standardized tests.

Workload relief – Caseloads for psychologists, workloads for secretaries, classroom sizes for teachers, everybody needs a reduction in workload. School librarians too are overloaded.  For instance, at the middle school where I work we have over 1100 students.  I am the only librarian.  I run the library with student helpers, and an office worker who covers me for lunch, and who sometimes can help for 30-40 minutes in the morning. Parent volunteers also help.  During the four lunch periods each day, I am the only adult in the library and we usually have anywhere from 75-100 students in the library every lunch.  Note, however, that librarians have not made any demands regarding workload.  The union is demanding workload reductions for members whose workloads are much worse than ours.

More information can be found on SEA’s website http://www.seattlewea.org/

Written by Elaine Harger, librarian at Washington Middle School in Seattle (you can see a picture of me in SEA's website banner photo, poking above the "n" and the "A" of "...Education Association" -- I'm the one with the white hair)

SEA Member Librarians Report on Day #1 of Strike

See below for reports from librarians with the Seattle Education Association on the first day on the picket lines (compiled by Elaine Harger)

I'm wondering what other people are experiencing on the picket line. We

had support from at least 50 parents with their kids today, as well as

thumbs up from a cop and honking in support from the garbage collectors.

Pathfinder is tucked away so the families had to come to us, but all in

all, we had nothing but support.

What are other people experiencing?

Same at thornton creek... Huge amounts of food and drink, coffee...

Parents and kids picketing with us. Wonderful support.

we had lots of support at Loyal Heights, all the staff showed, our school

secretary refused to cross the picket line and walked with us

lots of parents and kids stopped by and they brought donuts and other

goodies lots of supportive honks from cars a few people in cars gave us a

thumbs down

I picketed at Ballard HS last week and we got one thumbs down from a guy

in a Lexus.  Amazing how it can hook you! My colleague smiled in return.

At Washington Middle School we had got lots of happy honks from cars,

trucks, fire engines, motorcycles, buses.

My contribution to the line was copies of the lyrics to Solidarity Forever

and recruiting our choir teacher to lead us in song, which he happily,

joyfully, loudly, and beautifully did.  The sense of unity was powerful!

Here's a video news clip featuring Jesse Hagopian and Wayne Au that's

pretty good about the strike. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VC6ogSQws

Ready for Day #2!

Alki had parents bringing coffee, donuts and water all morning. Many

stayed to

walk. Lots of honks and thumbs up.

similar at garfield. i heard one of our teachers had a quote on national

NPR. Kashama Sawant stopped by to add support and there is a rally to be

held at city hall tomorrow by her for us.  Community forum at city hall,

stand with sea educators   thurs 9/10 6-7:30   council chambers, seattle

city hall 600 fourth ave floor 2 206-684-8016

adam.ziemkowski@seattle.gov

i just copied that off the flyer. there is going to be a musical

fundraiser at the neptune theatre on Sunday night

mad as hell and aint gonna take it anymore. i hope this thing ends soon!

We have one point person to talk to the media

We figure we walked 8 plus miles today.

Even small and out of the way Sanislo had families stop by, neighbors

provide coffee...and a much needed restroom throughout the day.  One

neighbor brought "only healthy snacks" to our school...along with their

stated goal of supporting every SW Seattle school!  As I'm fixing dinner

now, I am reminded that September is Food Literacy Month!  Make sure you

all are feeding yourselves well, not just often!  All that

walking...rewards feet well fed and watered!

Good to hear of NYT visits, local media. I caught Amy Goodman on Democracy

Now mentioning the strike today

.http://www.democracynow.org/2015/9/9/headlines#9914

Don't fight the impulse to do our job: be sure to share clips, links and

news of the coverage of our strike. Use those social media chops folks and

let's "Make a Mark and see what happens!"

In advance of National Dot Day next Tuesday, I'm making plans to share our

own Dot Day event...even if it is with staff from the sidewalk in front of

our school.  LITS make a difference.

View Ridge had wonderful staff turnout and so much community support in

the form of food, honks, & homemade signs. One crazy incident occurred -

and I didn't see it - but apparently a guy stopped his car to yell at a

groups of teachers. While he was on his traffic blocking tirade another

drive exited her car & proceeded to yell at him. Our teachers slowly left

the area! Great support, but a long day. We want a good contract & to be

back with the students!

Sand Point was well supported by families with food, coffee, and families

waking with us. Over all great but one guy flipped us off and yelled at us

to "Do your job". Low moment, but the vast majority was supportive.

Many thanks to Anne and the bargaining team!!

Overwhelming number of families to show up at Leschi Elementary; provide

lunch, snacks, walk with us and offer strong endorsements of their

support!

At Broadview we had 100% participation from the staff. It was great. Lots

of honks from passing cars (a few thumbs down and one "GO BACK TO WORK".

Families brought food. Kids joined up periodically through the day.

Positive experience. I heard a great KPLU explanation of the strike that

did a pretty good job of explaining the issues and the complicated issue

of more contact time/pay. It was also on NPR>

Similar scenario at John Rogers.  100% turnout from staff.  PTA officers,

their kids, many other families walked with us.  Beautiful lunch provided

(soup, quiche, veggies), along with cold drinks and snacks throughout the

day.  Nothing but support from neighbors and passers-by.  Our school

families (across the district) really understand the work we do, and know

the depth of our dedication and commitment.  This is why it's so powerful

to picket at our schools (even when they're completely hidden away, as

Rogers is), rather than at district HQ.

Same response at North Beach - nothing but positive.  Parents opening up

their homes for bathroom breaks. Food delivered all day long.  Kids and

parents walking with us. People with no connection to the school stopping

and talking and giving support.  The best part of the day was when our UPS

driver stopped and refused to cross the picket line to deliver our

packages.  He put everything on the curb and our custodian came out to

collect them.  Apparently district mail delivery guys and other workers

are Teamsters and refusing to cross picket lines as well.

Greetings,

Not too much I can tell you at this point. My understanding is that the

mediator has requested to meet with SEA and SPS tomorrow AM. It's possible

the bargaining team will then be called back.

If you have specific questions, at this point, I think the best thing to

do is write them down and hand them off to your strike captains. I'm

currently not in a position where I can get information as easily.

Will keep you all posted when I know something to report.

Thanks and good luck tomorrow.

Anne [librarian on SEA’s negotiating team]

Anyone that is interested can join STEM and Arbor Heights at the Boren

Building at 4:45 am!!!! We would welcome your support! SEA wants to make

it on the 5am news cycle! Address is 5950 Delridge Way SW, Seattle WA 98106

PHOTOS: Seattle Education Association on Strike

Yesterday marked the first day of strike action in thirty years by the Seattle Education Association. PLG co-ordinating committee member Elaine Harger, a school librarian in Seattle, has shared these pictures from yesterday's picket lines.

Elaine Harger (right) and a colleague, an ELL teacher

"My contribution to the line was copies of the lyrics to Solidarity Forever and recruiting our choir teacher to lead us in song, which he happily, joyfully, loudly, and beautifully did.  The sense of unity was powerful!"                                                                       - Elaine Harger

Seattle Education Association strike

View the video below for footage of yesterday's strike action, followed by a discussion about the decision by the school board's superintendent to seek legal action in response to the strike.

Seattle Education Association Votes to Strike

The Seattle Education Association, the union representing teachers, librarians, and support staff in the Seattle School District, has unanimously voted to take strike action if a new collective agreement is not reached by next Wednesday, the start of the school year. The union has been negotiating with the school board since May. A description of the issues under negotiation, including wage increases and teacher and staff evaluations, can be found on the union's website.

Labor Archives of Washington Wins Award

The Labor Archives of Washington is the 2013 recipient of RUSA's John Sessions Memorial Award. The award "recognizes a library or library system which has made a significant effort to work with the labor community and by doing so has brought recognition to the history and contribution of the labor movement to the development of the United States". The Labor Archives is receiving this award "or its steady stream of exhibits, outreach efforts to the community and the impressive LibGuides site and digital collections portal site". 

Enumclaw (WA) to vote on library transfer

The city of Enumclaw, Washington is getting ready to run a referendum on whether or not the city administration should transfer management of the library to the King County Library System.  According to the plan as passed by referendum (but not yet ratified by the plebiscite), all current library staff would be retained by the county library system should the transfer occur.  The library workers are currently members of AFSCME.