How We How We Got HereGot Here OEA’s Long OEA’s Long

Fight for Quality Fight for Quality Public Education Public Education and a Fair and a Fair Contract Contract

In 1995-96, Oakland teachers In 1995-96, Oakland teachers struck for fair compensation struck for fair compensation

and lower class size…and lower class size…

Though the Though the strike did strike did not win a not win a binding binding commitment commitment by the by the district to district to reduce class reduce class size size locally…locally…

……it helped it helped pave the pave the way only way only months months later to later to funding for funding for class size class size reduction reduction statewidestatewide..

In 2003 OEA continued leading the In 2003 OEA continued leading the way, beginning a campaign to make way, beginning a campaign to make corporations pay for public education corporations pay for public education

and other services.and other services.

Labor Day 2004Labor Day 2004

Oakland Chamber of Oakland Chamber of Commerce Commerce

11/4/0411/4/04

Oakland Tech Oakland Tech 12/5/0412/5/04

3/1/05 3/1/05 Sit-in in State Sit-in in State AdministratorAdministrator

’s Office’s Office

Students support Students support sit-insit-in

3/8/05 3/8/05

Town Hall Town Hall MeetingMeeting

3/15/05 3/15/05 State Building Rally and…State Building Rally and…

……State Building Sit DownState Building Sit Down

4/8/05 4/8/05 Allendale Elementary School Allendale Elementary School

BoycottBoycott

Teachers Teachers Reject Reject

Tentative Tentative AgreemeAgreeme

ntnt

4/27/054/27/05

Work-to-Rule andWork-to-Rule andInformational Picketing around the Informational Picketing around the

District District

Fremont High 5/11/05Fremont High 5/11/05

High School Students Walk Out High School Students Walk Out 5/17/055/17/05

All District All District Unions Unions MeetingMeeting

6/8/056/8/05

Summer 2005 (various times)Summer 2005 (various times)Leafleting Downtown for School Leafleting Downtown for School

FundingFunding

Shorenstein Properties, 7/27/2005Shorenstein Properties, 7/27/2005

Labor Day 2005 at Health Labor Day 2005 at Health NetNet

9/24/05Jonathan Kozol Urges Oakland Teachers to “Fight on!”

10/26/05 10/26/05

Job Action Defending Elementary Job Action Defending Elementary ArtsArts

Protesting Protesting Biased Biased Tribune Tribune

CoverageCoverage(also 10/26/05)(also 10/26/05)

Protest Protest at School at School

Board Board 12/14/0512/14/05

AFSCME president reaffirms AFSCME president reaffirms commitment to support OEA’s commitment to support OEA’s picket lines if teachers strikepicket lines if teachers strike

January 2006January 2006 Supermarket Saturdays BeginSupermarket Saturdays Begin

from Rockridge…from Rockridge…

……to Eastmont to Eastmont Mall.Mall.

The Facts Are In!The Facts Are In!

Teachers Protest Scab Teachers Protest Scab RecruitmentRecruitment

1/23/061/23/06

City Council City Council Urges Bargaining Urges Bargaining

Based on Fact Based on Fact Finding ReportFinding Report

2/7/062/7/06

2/8/062/8/06 Back to the School BoardBack to the School Board

2/16/062/16/06

Cluster Leafleting All Over Cluster Leafleting All Over TownTown

SEIU Joins OEA in Rejecting Health SEIU Joins OEA in Rejecting Health CapsCaps

2/13/062/13/06

3/6/06 3/6/06

OEA Makes Its OEA Makes Its Case, Wins Case, Wins Support at Support at

Public ForumPublic Forum

3/8/063/8/06 …and back to the School Board …and back to the School Board

in large numbersin large numbers

3/22/06 3/22/06

Membership Strike Authorization Membership Strike Authorization MeetingMeeting

330NO

10541054YES

4/5/20064/5/2006

March to State Offices… March to State Offices…

……and Kaiser Permanenteand Kaiser Permanente

4/19/20064/19/2006

Getting Getting Ready for Ready for the One-the One-Day, All-Day, All-Unions Unions OUSD OUSD StrikeStrike

4/19/20064/19/2006 All-unions rally at Oakland All-unions rally at Oakland

TechTech

4/20/ 20064/20/ 2006

The Strike That Wasn’t — The Strike That Wasn’t — Tentative Agreement ReachedTentative Agreement Reached

5/10/20065/10/2006

Tentative Agreement Tentative Agreement RatifiedRatified

10/11/200610/11/2006

OEA Gives OEA Gives State State

AdministratioAdministration an “F”n an “F”

12/9/200612/9/2006OEA Organizes Conference OEA Organizes Conference

on Crisis in Educationon Crisis in Education

1/17/20091/17/2009

Latest Bargaining Cycle Latest Bargaining Cycle Begins:Begins:

OEA Sunshines Contract OEA Sunshines Contract ProposalProposal

Demanding Demanding pay equity pay equity

and…and…

……class size class size reduction reduction and other and other conditions conditions necessary necessary for quality for quality education education

for all.for all.

5/19/20075/19/2007Longshore workers, Longshore workers, teachers and others teachers and others shut Port of Oakland shut Port of Oakland down, blocking war down, blocking war

shipments, demanding $ shipments, demanding $ for schools.for schools.

4/4/20084/4/2008

Rally at Rally at City City HallHall

May Day 2008May Day 2008School Site Leafleting and School Site Leafleting and

Teach-inTeach-in

6/13/20086/13/2008

Freeway Freeway BannerinBannerin

gg

February 12, 2009February 12, 2009

Membership Meeting and Membership Meeting and RallyRally

March 11, 2009March 11, 2009

Protest State Administration Protest State Administration Rip-Off for Charters and Attack Rip-Off for Charters and Attack

on Adult Edon Adult Ed

March 24, 2009March 24, 2009

Paul Robeson High Paul Robeson High School Parents, School Parents, Students, and Staff Students, and Staff Tell State Tell State Administration: Administration: ““Don’t Close Our Don’t Close Our School”School”

… … but District closed Robeson, BEST, but District closed Robeson, BEST, Explore, and others while Explore, and others while continuing to lead the state in the continuing to lead the state in the proportion of charter schools proportion of charter schools approved.approved.

5/13/2009March around Lakefrom Health Net & Kaiser Offices…

……to the School Board/State to the School Board/State Administration MeetingAdministration Meeting

June 29, 2009June 29, 2009OEA Press Conference Opposing OEA Press Conference Opposing State Administrator’s Declaration State Administrator’s Declaration

of Impasse…of Impasse…

……just as the District regains just as the District regains “local control” (though the “local control” (though the

state trustee remains…)state trustee remains…)

September 9, 2009September 9, 2009Masked OEA Members Dramatize Masked OEA Members Dramatize

District’s Failure to Recognize District’s Failure to Recognize TeachersTeachers

Sept. 24, 2009Sept. 24, 2009

UC Workers UC Workers and Students and Students Strike Strike Against Against Education Education Cuts Cuts StatewideStatewide

October 14, 2009October 14, 2009

Teachers Demand a Fair Teachers Demand a Fair Contract Now!Contract Now!

October 24, 2009October 24, 2009

Conference at UC Berkeley Plans Statewide Conference at UC Berkeley Plans Statewide Day of Strikes and Action to Defend Public Day of Strikes and Action to Defend Public

EducationEducation (on March 4, 2010)(on March 4, 2010)

Nov.-Dec. Nov.-Dec.

20092009 OEA OEA Cluster Cluster

MeetingsMeetings

Dec. 9, 2009Dec. 9, 2009

Teachers Rally in the Cold to Teachers Rally in the Cold to Demand a Fair ContractDemand a Fair Contract

January 12, 2010January 12, 2010

Montera Teachers Reach Out Montera Teachers Reach Out for Public Supportfor Public Support

January 20, 2010January 20, 2010OEA General Membership MeetingOEA General Membership Meeting

Oakland teachers vote to authorize strike Oakland teachers vote to authorize strike action and to support the March 4action and to support the March 4thth Statewide Day of ActionStatewide Day of Action

Nearly 800 members took a unanimous Nearly 800 members took a unanimous vote to reject the district’s last offer. vote to reject the district’s last offer.

94% of those present voted to 94% of those present voted to authorize a one-day strikeauthorize a one-day strike

93% voted to endorse March 493% voted to endorse March 4thth actionsactions

March 4March 4thth Day of Action Day of Action

Before Classes at Fremont High Before Classes at Fremont High

Life AcademyLife Academy

Laney College and OUSD High School Laney College and OUSD High School Students Converge DowntownStudents Converge Downtown

April 13, 2010April 13, 2010 The Fact Finder’s Report Finally The Fact Finder’s Report Finally

ArrivesArrives

The State-Appointed Factfinding Chair wrote:The State-Appointed Factfinding Chair wrote:

“ “It is not in the best interest of the It is not in the best interest of the students and the community for the students and the community for the OEA teaching staff to slide further OEA teaching staff to slide further behind its peers in the County and behind its peers in the County and statewide…There comes a point statewide…There comes a point beyond which we cannot expect beyond which we cannot expect workers to go.”workers to go.”

Among the fact-finder’s Among the fact-finder’s recommendations:recommendations:

Protect small class size, especially in K-3 in Protect small class size, especially in K-3 in schools and in schools struggling mostschools and in schools struggling most

Limit class size in special education classesLimit class size in special education classes Substantially maintain the number of Substantially maintain the number of

contracted teachers in Adult Educationcontracted teachers in Adult Education A 2% pay increase in January 2011A 2% pay increase in January 2011

Ward Rountree, the OEA-appointed member Ward Rountree, the OEA-appointed member on the factfinding panel, wrote:on the factfinding panel, wrote:

““Although I do not agree Although I do not agree

specifically with all of the specifically with all of the

Chair’s findings and Chair’s findings and

recommendations…I recommendations…I

believe this report and its believe this report and its

recommendations provide a recommendations provide a

solid foundation for the solid foundation for the

parties to settle this dispute parties to settle this dispute

in the best interests of the in the best interests of the

parties and the students parties and the students

and citizens of Oakland.”and citizens of Oakland.”

The district-appointed fact finding panel member, The district-appointed fact finding panel member,

Ron Bennett, has a long history of recommending Ron Bennett, has a long history of recommending

school program cuts and severe limitations on school program cuts and severe limitations on

compensation for school workers. Mr. Bennett compensation for school workers. Mr. Bennett

signed this report and wrote:signed this report and wrote:““I agree with the I agree with the Chair’s findings Chair’s findings and and recommendations recommendations and believe it is and believe it is in the best in the best interests of the interests of the parties to adopt parties to adopt the settlement the settlement recommended in recommended in this report.”this report.”

Typically both sides are Typically both sides are expected to make an expected to make an

attempt to negotiate after attempt to negotiate after a fact finding report is a fact finding report is

released. And since released. And since the the district-appointeddistrict-appointed fact fact

finder recommended that finder recommended that the district make the district make

compromises compromises recommended in the recommended in the

reportreport, the district’s next , the district’s next move was especially move was especially

surprising.surprising.

Saturday, April 17, 2010 Saturday, April 17, 2010

OEA Packs School Board OEA Packs School Board Meeting on “Strategy”Meeting on “Strategy”

April 21, 2010April 21, 2010

District Imposes Its District Imposes Its “Last, Best, Final “Last, Best, Final

Offer”Offer”

““Layoff, cutbacks, programs goneLayoff, cutbacks, programs gone

The list of hurt goes on and The list of hurt goes on and on.on.The folks at the top just walk The folks at the top just walk away,away,They got nothin’ to offer and they won’t They got nothin’ to offer and they won’t play.play.The administration wants flexibilityThe administration wants flexibility

They want all adult They want all adult ed—ed—……Immigrants of Oakland need Immigrants of Oakland need adult edadult edThey need contract teachersThey need contract teachers

…’…’Nuf Said!”Nuf Said!”

Hourly!

Adult Ed TeacherJessie Ortiz

April 22, 2010April 22, 2010

OEA Strike Information OEA Strike Information MeetingMeeting

AFSCME President Morris Tatum Expresses SolidarityAFSCME President Morris Tatum Expresses Solidarity

April 29, 2010April 29, 2010

Fremont Federation of High Fremont Federation of High SchoolsSchools

Two of Fremont’s Four Schools: 95% OutThe Other Two:

100% Out

Nearly 1000 Students Attend Fremont Federation’s Schools

Fremont Fed Attendance April 29:

28 Students

Global Family and Global Family and Learning Without LimitsLearning Without Limits

100% Out100% Out

United for Success andUnited for Success andLife AcademyLife Academy

Bridges Academy at MelroseBridges Academy at Melrose

Acorn Woodland Acorn Woodland and Encompass Adacemyand Encompass Adacemy

This This Parent Parent Told Told Scabs Scabs

to to Turn Turn

ArounAroundd

This TruckThis TruckDidDid Turn Turn

Around!Around!

The Strike Was a Huge The Strike Was a Huge Success!Success!

At least 91% of teachers stayed out At least 91% of teachers stayed out (one TV station reported 94% out)(one TV station reported 94% out)

About 40 Schools Were 100% OutAbout 40 Schools Were 100% Out Large numbers of teachers, parents, Large numbers of teachers, parents,

and students walked the picket linesand students walked the picket lines Most schools were virtually emptyMost schools were virtually empty

Suspend OUSD’s State Debt!Suspend OUSD’s State Debt!Bail Out Schools, Not Banks!Bail Out Schools, Not Banks!

May 3, 2010May 3, 2010

General Membership General Membership MeetingMeeting

Members discuss Members discuss and vote on two and vote on two

motionsmotions

Yes:  565          No:   184         Abstain:    Yes:  565          No:   184         Abstain:   

6  6                                             Passed by 75% Passed by 75%

Motion #1: Authorize the OEA Motion #1: Authorize the OEA Executive Board to call all actions as Executive Board to call all actions as necessary to settle the contract necessary to settle the contract dispute with OUSD up to and dispute with OUSD up to and including a strike. A decision to call including a strike. A decision to call an indefinite strike must be decided an indefinite strike must be decided by the Representative Council.by the Representative Council.

Motion #2: Vote to approve the Health Motion #2: Vote to approve the Health Benefits Improvement Committee Benefits Improvement Committee

(HBIC) April 14, 2010 Tentative (HBIC) April 14, 2010 Tentative Agreement (TA).Agreement (TA).

            Yes:  559   No:   15   Abstain:   16 Yes:  559   No:   15   Abstain:   16

Passed by 95% Passed by 95%

Join us on Day of the TeacherJoin us on Day of the TeacherWednesday May 12, as weWednesday May 12, as we

BE

THERE!OEA and OUSD Bargaining Teams Meet Again on May

13

Line the LakeLine the Lake

Presentation Produced by Presentation Produced by Craig GordonCraig Gordon

with additional photos by with additional photos by

MikeMike MyslinksiMyslinksiDavid TurnerDavid TurnerSteve NeatSteve Neat

Memo DurginMemo DurginRobin LovellRobin LovellPat KaplanPat Kaplan