[Editor’s Note: Mr. Mielke is President of the Teachers Union, and here is his update to members.]
Friends –
Your CCFT bargaining team met again with the CCUSD management team on Tuesday. The highlights:
1. Retirement incentive
CCUSD has proposed a $6,000 incentive for teachers retiring this year. We had proposed a significantly higher (and more powerful) incentive. We countered on Tuesday at $10,000. We should know shortly, and will keep you posted.
2. Salary
Our proposal calls for CCUSD to give raises over the next five years large enough to move us to the median of the 47 unified districts in L.A. County. Currently, we're near the bottom.
CCUSD did not offer an ongoing increase. They offered for this year the equivalent of one day's pay – not on the salary schedule. For next year and the following year, they have offered the equivalent of a 1 percent increase in each year – but again, as a one-time payment, not an ongoing increase to your salary schedule.
Ongoing raises are preferable to one-time bonuses, especially when you are trying to improve the competitiveness of a sub-standard salary schedule. But given the fact that there is money on the table for you, our team, rather than rejecting this offer outright, has decided to ask for your feedback. Look for that short survey in the next few days.
3. Class size
We know that your classes are too large. CCUSD has agreed, in principle, to convene a labor/management committee to see what creative solutions are out there. The committee's recommendations will be forwarded on to the teams.
4. Nurses
CCUSD agrees with us that our nurses have been stretched to the max. CCUSD plans to add additional nursing staff as well as adding an LVN. We anticipate that they will agree also to our proposal for the creation of a nursing department chairperson and stipend.
The teams meet again on Tuesday, March 5. Please look for that short survey and complete it pronto.
Don't hesitate to contact your site rep or any member of the bargaining team with your questions or concerns:
- Tayo Balogun, CCMS
- Casey Chabola, Lin Howe
- Carmen Campos, El Marino
- David Mielke, CCHS
Mr. Mielke may be contacted at davidmielke@ccusd.org
