RICHMOND, Calif. — Some 3,000 teachers and other school workers went on strike against the West Contra Costa Unified School District Dec. 4, demanding better wages and adequate staffing. This is their first strike since the district was founded in 1965.
They held a spirited rally here of over 1,000 strikers — teachers in the United Teachers of Richmond and staff members in Teamsters Local 856. “The district says cut back, we say fight back!” and “Rain or shine, we walk the picket line!” they chanted.
“We don’t have enough special education teachers,” Teamster Hope Mariscal, a bilingual teachers aide, told the Militant. “Last year in my school we had three paraprofessionals for special needs students. This year we have two. We want full staffing so the children aren’t getting different substitute teachers all the time.”
“Some kids never have a permanent teacher,” Sue King, a second grade teacher at Montalvin elementary school and a shop steward, said. “Consistency is key.”
“We’re demanding a permanent teacher for every student, smaller classes and smaller caseloads for special education workers,” strike captain Ethan Sorscher added. “Also, the district is prematurely exiting students from special education, which needs to stop.”
“For me the strike is about the conditions for our students,” Rachel McLachlan, a third grade teacher at Mira Vista elementary, said. “It’s also about salary. We’re one of the lowest-paid districts in the region, and that’s why we have so many vacancies.”
“It’s very important that teachers have what they need so they can give the students what they need,” Nicole Miner, mother of a first grader here, said, holding a sign that read, “Parents stand with teachers.”
The next day the school district negotiators agreed to return to the bargaining table. Called out on a day’s notice, hundreds of unionists marched and chanted outside the school where the negotiations were taking place on Dec. 6, then held a candlelight vigil. They sang, “We shall overcome,” and “All I want for Christmas is a fair contract, so I can afford to live in California.”
Other teachers in the area face similar challenges. Members of the United Educators of San Francisco voted Dec. 3 by 99.3% to authorize a strike.