Spring Break feels like a lifetime ago, but it has only been 2 weeks. And with the onslaught of attacks from the Federal Administration, promoting divisions rooted in bigotry, ignorance, and hate, and seeding fear of an ever more repressive state, holding personal and school spaces for our students, their families, and you and your loved ones is a daily exercise in collective hope and determination. Your jobs are difficult already, and you show up every single day to support students and their families. I know you truly are appreciated and valued by many despite the tumultuous treatment and stress we are experiencing in this District right now.
For weeks, your union has been focused on supporting our 34 counselors and 124 paraeducators as the District has chosen to fully move forward with the layoff process. UESF was able to reach a very important settlement agreement with the District for our members whose layoffs are not rescinded to keep their healthcare through July and August. We also know the layoff outcome doesn’t respect these members as the amazing educators they are. We must keep reminding ourselves that the reason we are in this difficult situation is due to the decades of mismanagement which has now allowed an unelected and austerity-driven advisor to dictate how SFUSD should use tens of millions to serve students. Not only do you need to fight to hold the District accountable, but now also need to fight against a State advisor who is irresponsibly preventing us from spending money that San Francisco voters agreed to invest in our students.
We must all continue relentlessly fighting to make sure all union members have a job next school year in our ongoing struggle to achieve the schools our students deserve. The seriousness of this fight is evident in the amazing big bargaining team! One of the first proposals was to end the practice of sending layoff notices when there are still vacancies. Alongside a proposal for raises and full dependent healthcare coverage, you all know that only our contract wins will actually stabilize our school communities. In 3 sessions, the District has spent their time at the table completely rejecting UESF proposals or not responding at all. You can read all updates on uesf.org or make sure to check in with your bargaining representative.
Waiting until this District “gets it together,” is a losing strategy. That is why you need to be ready to take major action in the Fall of 2025. Only you and your colleagues united at your school sites and work areas will be capable of winning the schools our students deserve, just like in 2023. And we can’t wait until the Fall to get ready. Next week, almost 90 school sites and work areas will participate in “informational pickets.” Last time, there were 34 sites that did this for the first time and now you have almost tripled that participation! This shows the unity and commitment of UESF members to fighting and winning the schools our students deserve. Make sure to RSVP and to check in with your UBC to support in the many support roles needed. Many Bay Area labor leaders and supporters, including our SFUSD sibling unions, will be attending in solidarity. The message to the District, to our city, and to the State of California is clear: We cannot wait for those pushing the status quo to meet the needs of our students TODAY. Their status quo NEVER worked for us. It is us, the broad working class, those of us working hard to keep the doors to our schools open and holding together the many crumbling institutions under attack who will save the future of our communities. Together, we can win better! See you out on the picket line!
