ABC Unified School District teachers unhappy with the results of ongoing contract negotiations are planning a “work slowdown” Monday, a union official said Sunday.
Ray Gaer, president of the ABC Federation of Teachers, told the City News Service on Sunday that “ABC’s teachers and nurses will participate in a general slowdown in work. There are clearly members who want to get involved in more work action; However, the ABC Teachers Association just wants to put the necessary pressure on ABC School Board members to encourage them to reconsider the value of their staff.”
The main problem appears to be teacher salaries, with union officials saying they worked without a contract for two years while the district spent money on various campus improvements.
Attempts to reach county officials on Sunday were not immediately successful. County officials have told Cerritos Community News that the government will reclaim reserve funds above a certain percentage if they are not spent.
In its most recent Jan. 22 newsletter, the teachers’ union said its negotiating team exchanged offers with the district at a mid-January negotiating meeting.
“Expectations have only gone up, not down,” said the union’s Ruben Mancillas. “Members know how high the inflation rate is. Members know what the pay scales are in neighboring counties. Members are aware of how much additional federal and state funding has been made available to support the extraordinary circumstances we are all facing. Members have even seen new capital improvements such as solar farms erected in the district parking lot. They have an understandable sense of urgency about negotiations that will produce a positive outcome for them and their families.
The ABC Unified School District serves the cities of Artesia, most of Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, that portion of Lakewood east of the San Gabriel River, and small portions of Long Beach, Norwalk, and La Mirada.
Comments are closed.