PTC Organizing

At Thursday's Leadership Council meeting of the Temecula Valley Educators Association, the TVEA Organizing Committee presented a plan to organize around elementary and middle school Parent Teacher Conferences. This organizing activity focuses on the governance of the TVUSD Trustees, that after 6 months of bargaining was unable to approve a Tentative Agreement that was settled within their parameters.

Site leaders were briefed and provided the materials to distribute for this activity. Elementary schools have enough stickers for every day of conferences, while middle schools have one sticker for their parent teacher conference day on Thursday. Feel free to pin multiple colorful homemade paper “Ask me!” signs or arrows on your shirt to draw attention to the sticker. Email picks of your sticker decorations to tvea.organize@gmail.com.

If you are in a temporary and probationary contract know that the rest of us have your back! Do not feel compelled to participate in activities that may put your position or contract at risk.

You have rights as an employee:

1. 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 the stalled Tentative Agreement and on political candidates and issues as long as it does not interfere with the school activity, and it is clear your thoughts are a personal opinion and not endorsed or creates an appearance of endorsement by TVUSD. Even during contract hours! Keep it professional. Always a good practice to be asked about your thoughts first.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Retaliation for participation in union activities is illegal. Wearing TVEA shirts, participation in demonstrations, serving as a TVEA Site Leader or committee member, etc.

Reach out to colleagues with statements of support. We all need encouragement and strength during this time.