Oakland School Strike - Help Joaquin Miller Staff
Beschermde donatie
Dear Community,
We’re reaching out to you because we need your help.
Our public school system has been underfunded for decades. Inadequate financial investment in education is obviously harmful for students, the majority of whom now live in poverty in the United States. In urban centers such as Oakland, the consequences of under-funding have an over-sized impact on our students, especially black and brown children, who are disproportionately poor.
Because we teachers care about creating an equitable school system, we are using our united power to demand more for students. We have been on strike since February 21st, and we are striking for lower class sizes, more nurses, more student supports, and a living wage for teachers in Oakland.
This last point is important in our request for two reasons. In the long term we need to seriously address the teacher retention crisis in Oakland: over 20% of teachers leave the district every year. Today, in order to flex our union power through this strike action, teachers and other staff members are sacrificing their pay for the duration of the strike.
Hopefully the strike will last no longer than the recent 6 day UTLA strike. However, we know this is not a guarantee. Marriott workers were out on strike for nearly 2 months before they won their contract dispute just months ago. In 1996, when Oakland teachers were last on strike, it took 6 weeks before they finally won lower class sizes, not just for Oakland, but for all of California.
While teachers are able to apply for no-interest loans and strike assistance from our union, the loan money is just that - a loan that needs to be paid back. When many folks are living paycheck to paycheck in one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, paying back loans is not always an option. In addition to this, it is not guaranteed that all teachers who apply are going to be able to receive the full amount ($1500) from the strike assistance fund.
We have also had solidarity from non-OEA school employees in their refusal to cross the picket lines. This includes our support staff - teacher assistants, para-educators, and office staff. Some of these workers are unionized, and some are not. While folks will do all the hustling they can to make ends meet, for some this is just not a feasible option. We want to eliminate the need to choose between crossing a picket line one believes in and making the rent, feeding a family, or paying bills. This is why we are requesting your assistance. Here’s what we are asking:
Adopt our school today. Make a monetary contribution to support Joaquin Miller Elementary teachers and staff during a strike action.
The sooner you donate, the more peace of mind our strikers will have that guaranteed funds will arrive before the 3/15 paycheck distribution, and they will know that they have a little more monetary support to stay on the picket line, and outside the classrooms for longer.
All money donated will be pooled and distributed to those in need equally.
Thank you for your support and solidarity in this struggle for a better, fully-funded, more just public education system.
Teachers of Joaquin Miller Elementary School
Oakland Education Association
We’re reaching out to you because we need your help.
Our public school system has been underfunded for decades. Inadequate financial investment in education is obviously harmful for students, the majority of whom now live in poverty in the United States. In urban centers such as Oakland, the consequences of under-funding have an over-sized impact on our students, especially black and brown children, who are disproportionately poor.
Because we teachers care about creating an equitable school system, we are using our united power to demand more for students. We have been on strike since February 21st, and we are striking for lower class sizes, more nurses, more student supports, and a living wage for teachers in Oakland.
This last point is important in our request for two reasons. In the long term we need to seriously address the teacher retention crisis in Oakland: over 20% of teachers leave the district every year. Today, in order to flex our union power through this strike action, teachers and other staff members are sacrificing their pay for the duration of the strike.
Hopefully the strike will last no longer than the recent 6 day UTLA strike. However, we know this is not a guarantee. Marriott workers were out on strike for nearly 2 months before they won their contract dispute just months ago. In 1996, when Oakland teachers were last on strike, it took 6 weeks before they finally won lower class sizes, not just for Oakland, but for all of California.
While teachers are able to apply for no-interest loans and strike assistance from our union, the loan money is just that - a loan that needs to be paid back. When many folks are living paycheck to paycheck in one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, paying back loans is not always an option. In addition to this, it is not guaranteed that all teachers who apply are going to be able to receive the full amount ($1500) from the strike assistance fund.
We have also had solidarity from non-OEA school employees in their refusal to cross the picket lines. This includes our support staff - teacher assistants, para-educators, and office staff. Some of these workers are unionized, and some are not. While folks will do all the hustling they can to make ends meet, for some this is just not a feasible option. We want to eliminate the need to choose between crossing a picket line one believes in and making the rent, feeding a family, or paying bills. This is why we are requesting your assistance. Here’s what we are asking:
Adopt our school today. Make a monetary contribution to support Joaquin Miller Elementary teachers and staff during a strike action.
The sooner you donate, the more peace of mind our strikers will have that guaranteed funds will arrive before the 3/15 paycheck distribution, and they will know that they have a little more monetary support to stay on the picket line, and outside the classrooms for longer.
All money donated will be pooled and distributed to those in need equally.
Thank you for your support and solidarity in this struggle for a better, fully-funded, more just public education system.
Teachers of Joaquin Miller Elementary School
Oakland Education Association
Organisator
Tessa Strauss
Organisator
Oakland, CA