Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1487796
TWIN RIVERS: Organizing for more student resources, educator recruitment and retention Twin Rivers United Educators (TRUE) are organizing and building power to win at the bargaining table for their students and schools. In late October, upwards of 800 TRUE members rallied at a school board meeting and called on their district to invest historic funding where it counts: educator retention and recruitment and support for students. "Our district has spent years disinvesting in educators in Twin Rivers. They 've dedicated less and less to educator salaries and benefits and direct support for students. We now have a staffing crisis and poor learning conditions for our students. It doesn't have to be this way," said TRUE President Rebecca LeDoux. "Our students should be able to count on having teachers in the classroom when they come to school," SAN RAMON Valley: Class-size improvements, staffing ratios among wins The members of San Ramon Valley Education Asso- ciation (SRVEA) organized and won for their students and schools. For the second year in a row, SRVEA and the district reached a tentative agreement in four bargaining sessions. SRVEA won improvements in elementary class size, the inclusion of social worker and elementary counselor staffing ratios in the contract for the first time, and an 8.5 percent on-schedule raise with a 1 percent off-schedule payment. SRVEA members already have employer-paid family health care, but approximately 0.5 percent of salary of past cost-shift- ing to employees was also reversed and those healthcare benefits were restored. SRVEA also won the elimination of a cap on out- of-district service credit for placement on the salary schedule for new hires. #SRVEAStrong SOUTHWEST: Getting strike-ready as negotiations reach impasse Southwest Teachers Association (SWTA) is at impasse with South Bay Union School District after management made a "last, best and final offer " on Nov. 1 that does not center the needs of students. After months of bargaining with little progress, it appeared district management was ready to reach a fair deal, making movement on sev- eral key provisions related to class size and special education. But when SWTA made a counteroffer, district management rejected it, saying they didn't have financial authorization from the school board, and declared they had made their final offer. SWTA members are organizing to support their bargaining team and preparing for the possibility of a strike. Follow SWTA on Facebook (@SouthwestTeachersAssociation) for the latest news and to support Southwest educators and their students. #WeAreSWTA #SWTACares Continued on Page 40 39 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3