Oakland Education Association votes to keep up the heat

BREAKING NEWS ABOUT OAKLAND TEACHERS’ VOTE: Oakland Education Association President Betty Olson-Jones just announced the results of a crucial vote by Oakland Unified teachers on the future of their contract fight. In a strong show of solidarity after their one-day strike April 29, educators voted 75% yes in favor of authorizing the leaders of the union to take various actions to secure a fair contract – up to and including another strike. In all, 755 educators took part in the voting, which took place at Oakland Technical High School Monday: The breakdown was 565 voting yes, 184 voting no, with 6 abstentions. Both the OEA and the school district will meet on Thursday to set the new date when negotiations will start again.


Separately on Monday, teachers passed a motion requiring that any decision to call an indefinite strike must be made by the OEA Representative Council made up of more than 100 Oakland Unified teachers from all school sites. A short strike can still be authorized by just the much smaller OEA executive board. Oakland teachers are among the lowest-paid in the East Bay and are angry that the district imposed a contract April 21 containing no raises that also could hurt students by increasing class sizes.


OEA President Olson-Jones can be reached for interviews on cell at 510-866-3676. More information is on the union website at http://www.OaklandEA.org