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Earlier today, the California Public
Employment Relations Board (PERB) issued a legal complaint against the Yuba
City Unified School District (YCUSD). The complaint alleges that the YCUSD
violated state law when it adopted a series of board resolutions earlier this
summer threatening to discipline employees who exercise their legally protected
right to strike. Recognizing the gravity of the claims, PERB processed this
matter on an expedited basis.
“We’re gratified that PERB took this matter
as seriously as we do,” said YCTA President Dina Luetgens. “These resolutions
are the latest example of the district’s disregard and disrespect for the
hardworking teachers who devote themselves to educating our community’s
children. The district tried to intimidate our members and interfere with their
rights, but the state of California saw through that. We’re looking forward to
vigorously prosecuting these claims.”
While no date has yet been set for a formal
legal hearing on the complaint, it will likely occur in short order, because
PERB issued the complaint on an expedited basis.
The PERB complaint comes in the midst of a
bargaining dispute between the district and its teachers. The teachers,
concerned about the district’s inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers
of qualified teachers, point to the fact that the district pays teachers 13
percent below the state average. By contrast, the district pays its
administrators well above the state average. Though it is financially healthy,
and though it started this school year with 40 unfilled teaching positions, the
district has continued to refuse the teachers’ proposal for competitive
salaries that will attract and retain quality, qualified teachers.
“Teacher turnover — to say nothing of
unfilled vacancies — hurts students,” said Luetgens. “The district is perfectly
able to afford salaries that attract and retain quality teachers; it just
doesn’t want to. I find it astounding that the district’s priorities are so
skewed. There is no more important expenditure than investing in a qualified,
stable team of teachers to educate our students.”
Faced with this district intransigence, the
teachers voted overwhelmingly last May to authorize the YCTA Executive Board to
call a strike if necessary should the parties not reach a contract settlement.
“We are prepared to make this sacrifice for our students and community,”
Luetgens said.
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Yuba City Teachers Association is
a chapter of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association, which is
affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association. | 
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