SLTA - Call to action

Dear SLTA Members,
SLTA's Representative Council had its first meeting of the year yesterday, and it's clear we have a lot of work to do.  The big issues in yesterday's meeting centered around the upcoming election, strengthening our voices at each school, and channeling SLTA's increasing activism.
Election 2020 - Yes on Proposition 15!!!
The Schools and Communities First Initiative is now Proposition 15.  Proposition 15 will raise more than $12 Billion for California Schools, which translates to about $6 million each year for San Leandro Schools.  Given the uncertainty of the economy, Prop. 15 might be the only thing that saves much of our education program, including jobs, class sizes and resources.  SLTA activists did an extraordinary job getting this initiative on the State Ballot, now it's time to get out the vote.  How do we do that???  Phone Banks.  Please join SLTA members and CTA members at one of the following virtual phone banks... August 26 (That's right, TONIGHT at 5:30), September 2, September 9 and September 16.  Please email me to volunteer.  Our schools and our jobs might very well rely on your participation.


Member Power at each School Site
Our Distance Learning MOU gives a lot of power to members to resolve problems that come up at each site.  Principals are required to work with site reps  weekly in order to resolve issues that come up.  The MOU also gives teachers a voice in how School Site Council funds should be spent.  Now more than ever, SLTA will be working with Members at each school to build strong Union schools.  Each school should be holding a Site Representative Election if they haven't already done so.  I have already shared instructions with existing site reps about how to conduct those elections.  The good news is that there is a place for ALL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN UNION ACTIVITIES, whether or not you're a site rep or an officer.  In fact, you are encouraged.  There are a number of ways to get involved, both at your site and within our whole Union family.  Also, Representative Council meetings are open to all members.  The dates for the rest of the year are September 22, October 20, December 8, January 19, February 23, March 16, April 20 and May 18.  Put these dates in your calendar and let me know if you want to be included on the invitation list.


Union Activism
This Summer has seen an extraordinary rise in SLTA Activism.  Now our job is to turn our  voices into power.  We have a lot of work to do, and the strength of our work will rely on how many of you get plugged in to one team or another.  Please think about joining one of these committees or working teams.  (Let me know with an email):
• Political Action / Elections team.  Help us win the Prop. 15 campaign, and plug into national campaigns which will have an impact on our schools. 
• Bargaining Issues Survey Committee.  With 2 rounds of negotiations coming up (an MOU for the transition to live teaching, and the whole contract, which expires at the end of the year), this group will be responsible for getting the conversation started with our members.
• Special Education Committee.  Already meeting, but more voices welcome.
• Human Rights / Social Justice Committee.  Already meeting, but more voices welcome.
• Communications / Social Media Committee.  


Also, if you or a colleague want to participate in one of the Union / District working groups that we fought for in the MOU, please let me know!
• Employee Wellness Working Group 
• SEL / Racial Justice / Trauma-Informed Instruction Working Group (Specific groups for each level of education)

​The work that we do is critically important for our community.  And our work will be much stronger with YOU at the table.  I'm happy to talk about these working groups with you, please reach out.


In Solidarity,
Tom


If you haven’t done so, please check out our website at https://www.weareslta.org/, and follow us on Facebook.  Also, CTA’s website and NEA’s website are outstanding resources for everything from member benefits to lesson planning to the important political issues that impact schools.  Feel free to contact me using my personal email address at [email protected].