Latest Collective Bargaining Up-date From The Teachers Union

When money is tight- Collective Bargaining pits what is in the best interest of students against what is in the best interest of employees.

The Union's position: "We believe that CUSD has sufficient funds to meet our current proposal and still maintain adequate funding for its other needs as well as its reserve. The issue appears to be CUSD’s ability to pay versus their willingness to pay."

Does CUSD really have an ability to pay?

Just the Facts:

CUSD does not have sufficient funding to:

• Provide District funded art, music, science- parents are asked to fundraise for these "Core" Educational Programs.
• Reduce Class Size- The LCAP stated that the District budgeted $4.9 million for class size reduction- but CUSD failed to reduce class sizes. (Where did that money go?) CUSD has the highest class sizes in the State and the Nation. Now parents are fundraising for class size reduction and instructional aids to help with adult supervision in overcrowded classrooms.
• Provide school nurses.
• Provide librarians.
• Repair old facilities.
• Build new facilities for our impacted campuses.

The District is required by law to pay for all of the items listed above, but is refusing to add the cost of these items to its budget. If they were to fund the above it would actually require employees to take substantial reductions in compensation.

The Truth-

Under the State's new funding formula the state is limiting K-12 per pupil funding to 2007-08 levels not to be reached until 2021. That will mean that CUSD will have flat funding for 14 years straight. The math just doesn't work - if you want to give compensation increases to employees every year- then that means you have to take something away from students. CUSD funding is around $7,663 - you simply can't educate a student for that - not now and not in 2021.

What needs to be done?

Every parent, taxpayer and District employee needs to demand that the State provide us with the funding that we are constitutionally entitled to. In 2007-08 the State had revenues of $103 billion today they have $123 billion. The State has the money to fund a minimum education for every student in CUSD but is choosing not to because they want to use money that should be going to our kids for other programs and entitlements.

Don't let CUSD take another thing from students- If the Unions want a raise let them ask Sacramento for it.

I have outlined the legal path to get the funding we are entitled to- http://peopleforstudentrights.com

The following is CUEA's Latest Bargaining Up-date: http://www.cuea.org/a_Version_03/index.php. CUSD has not provided parents or the public with any information on the collective bargaining process.

Bargaining Support Bulletins
Download January 12 edition
Download November 17 edition

The CUEA and CUSD contract negotiations teams held their tenth meeting last Friday, January 22, but are not yet close to a tentative agreement. We believe that CUSD has sufficient funds to meet our current proposal and still maintain adequate funding for its other needs as well as its reserve. The issue appears to be CUSD’s ability to pay versus their willingness to pay.

The CUEA Bargaining team includes Chairperson Joy Schnapper (Arroyo Vista Elem), Brian Todd, CTA Executive Director, Greg Young (SCHS), John Kearsley (CVHS), Dawn Johnson (BAMS), Carter Johnson (LRMS), and Angela Rinke (Special Ed).

"Family Field Trips" Schedule

New negotiations dates are currently being worked out

Please note that the time between sessions is necessary for 1) both parties to obtain relevant information for the table, and 2) also somewhat a function of the work schedules of the individuals on the two different teams.

INFORMATION

January 13

The CUSD and CUEA Bargaining Teams met on Wednesday, January 13. After a long day of going back and forth, little progress was made. The District is now preparing to bring back a response to CUEA’s latest proposal when they meet again on Friday, January 22. More specific details should be forthcoming after that meeting. Now that Governor Brown has proposed his budget for 2016-17, we are hoping to move forward quickly.

December 15

The CUEA bargaining team met with the district bargaining team on Tuesday, December 15th. The CUEA team spent the entire day in negotiations with the District team, with no settlement. Two more meetings dates have been set for January 13 and January 22. Your Bargaining Team members are convinced there is an ability to pay, but there needs to be a willingness.

December 3

The CUEA bargaining team met with the district bargaining team on Thursday, December 3rd. The district presented their counter to our comprehensive proposal initially presented on September 30. The CUEA bargaining team reviewed the proposal, heard an in-depth analysis of the financial status by the district Chief Financial Officer Clark Hampton, and provided CUSD with a counter proposal. The next bargaining session is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15. It is CUEA’s expectation that CUSD will be coming in with a counter-offer at that meeting.November 13We are committed to keeping you informed of the progress of the bargaining process between CUSD and CUEA. We have met three times since last June and have three more meetings scheduled for November 13, December 3 and December 15.

We will be sending our first issue of Bargaining Support, to members via Building Reps at the November 17 Rep Council Meeting

October 21

A comprehensive proposal was given to the District team at the meeting on Sep. 30. The meeting on Oct. 21 was cancelled due to changes in leadership in the district's negotiations team. The CUEA Bargaining Support team will begin meeting to assist negotiations progress.

September 30

The CUEA Bargaining Team held its 3rd bargaining session with the District on Wednesday, September 30. CUEA provided the District with a comprehensive proposal covering Articles 5 (Hours of Employment) ,8 (Class Size),13 (Health & Welfare) ,14 (Wages) & 16 (Grievance Procedures).September 16Opening negotiations session between CUSD and CUEA

June 9, 2015

Survey results showed salary as the number one item of importance as voted on by members.

May 26- June 2

Bargaining Survey To MembersThe CUEA Executive Board voted at their April 28 meeting to affirm the proposal sent to CUSD for 2015-16, in which we requested bargaining on the following portions of the contract: Article 5, Hours of Employment; Article 8, Class Size; Article 13, Health and Welfare Benefits; Article 14, Wages; and Article 16, Grievance Procedure. The District has issued their proposal which covers the following: Article 1, Length of Agreement; Article 7, Evaluation Procedure; Article 10, Leaves; and Article 17, Peer Assistance and Review.

The Executive Board also approved appointments to the Bargaining team for 2015-16. Team members are Joy Schnapper (Arroyo Vista ES) , Brian Todd, CTA Executive Director;, Greg Young (SCHS), John Kearsley (CVHS), Carter Johnson (LRMS), andAngela Rinke (Castille ES).

We will be conducting a member survey requesting input to the bargaining team sometime in May. Be watching for the link in an upcoming CUEA Update.

May 23, 2015

No current Bargaining Update documents at this time