TVEA Members,
Happy Friday! We all deserve it! Yesterday evening your TVEA Leadership Council met for their October meeting. We had our greatest attendance, with the largest number of representatives present, 64 members.
I am continually humbled by the trust granted to me by the membership as caretaker to our Temecula Valley Educators Association. While only one year has passed, I, along with the Executive Board continue to work to strengthen solidarity and voice in our organization, while also increasing transparency and accountability of the elected leadership. It is not always smooth sailing.
I respect and feel honored to serve alongside TVEA Site Leaders for their resilience and leadership. Over the last month you, the membership, have also taken the initiative to organize at your sites and represent and protect our contract. While the year has been tough, I am reenergized when I visit with teachers and parents, and see your art and magic in the classroom with the students of our community. You are role models and I envy your relationships with students.
We are all committed to serving our community. Many of us sacrifice incredible amounts of unpaid time to prepare lessons, organize clubs, and donate personal funds to create an inviting and inclusive community in our classroom and programs. Which makes these times so trying! The board majority did not care enough to prepare for their meeting that they agendized. Did not want to ask their questions in a public forum to the professionals and experts in the room. Instead they preferred to take their questions to their outside network or conduct it outside of the public view. After 6 months of bargaining, adhering to their parameters and regular updates at board meetings, a comment was made that the district would go bankrupt? I expect to hear how these questions and concerns were resolved in the TVUSD Governing Board meeting on October 17th in a transparent fashion.
While there are many ideas floating around (especially this week!) stay focused on the horizon. Don’t let the latest iteration of what comes from the TVUSD Board affect you. Do what you do best in the classroom and spend time with your families. Stay connected to your colleagues, and act in solidarity, in support of each other.
There are many messages coming from the outside meant to attack our union and destabilize it: to attack the role of the president, the integrity of the contract, the good faith process in bargaining. I am prepared for it because We know what UNION is. It is not I, but WE. It is not the TVEA President, but the educators of TVUSD. When the TVEA/TVUSD Collective Bargaining Agreement is compromised, it affects all of US.
Last night, I stayed up writing an open letter to all of you. Too long to put out at one time, but over the next week I will send out installments. (I actually spend as little time as possible thinking about the TVUSD Board, but invest my time in the Educators of Temecula throughout the district to have the support they need to enable thriving teaching and learning environments.) Enjoy the weekend and a few reminders for you as we move forward.
During this tenuous time, know that you have rights as an employee:
You have the right to free speech during non-instructional time. While you are not teaching, you are free to share your thoughts with parents on political candidates and issues as long as it does not interfere with the activity, and it is clear it is a personal opinion and not endorsed by TVUSD. Even during contract hours! Keep it professional. Always a good practice to be asked about your thoughts first.
Union and personal items can be displayed in the classroom as long as they are appropriate for the setting. Union messages are protected by the Public Employee Relations Board. The district may not discriminate on taking down only union messages from classrooms. Here is an example of a union message you can have on the inside of your door, which is not unprofessional, or needing “approval.” Inside door poster example. If you have a sign and it is taken down, please notify your site leader along with the explanation that was provided.
You have the right to express yourself on your person or car, as long as the message is appropriate in the setting (inappropriate words or symbols). You can wear a pin, sticker, or shirt.
Retaliation for participation in union activities is illegal. Wearing TVEA shirts, participation in demonstrations, serving as a TVEA Site Leader or committee member, etc.
