Union?

What has your union leadership done for you lately?

• Devastated union solidarity with a tiered health care system
• Increased K-3 class size to 31 students
• Given families a 10.3% - 17% pay cut PER YEAR
• Rigged elections
• Made you set up your classrooms on your own time due to furlough days
• Allowed a 38 student class size average in secondary Math, ELD, Social Studies, Science,  and English classes
• Forced experienced teachers to retire early
• Cost members dozens of jobs
• Ignored or manipulated By-Laws when it was convenient
• Turned their backs on a 93% STRIKE authorization voted on by 98% of the membership
• Stopped fighting for us

STUDY YOUR PAYCHECK ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010.

Has our new contract benefited you?

EVERY ONE OF US

has been affected by

a devastating contract that was

voted on by only 45% of the membership,

ratified by only 23% of our members,

and passed by only 8 votes

on only ONE DAY of voting.

VOTE IN MARCH

to make deep and powerful changes

TO REPLACE OUR UNION LEADERSHIP

Challenge our president’s 35 years on the UTR Executive Board!

The Committee to Elect Proactive UTR Leadership

 http://theproactiveutrleadership.blogspot.com

A Quick Study of How Unions Help Workers Win a Voice @ Work

Union 101

Proactive Leaders

WCCUSD Scab Training 2009

Eric Swabeck for UTR Elections 2010

Diane Brown speaks out at the NEA Representative Assembly

Election Reform

UTR Election Reform 2010

CTA Board of Directors Authorize Chapters and/or Service Center Councils (SCC) to conduct local chapter elections through Electronic/online voting procedures as established in the CTA Elections Manual

In the future we can vote to change our voting process and method of voting, CTA has authorized electronic/online voting. VR Election Services (Voice Retrieval & Information Services) is an approved CTA vendor election service that conducts elections.

We must ensure that no voter is disenfranchised; particularly the secondary members, middle schools, and large elementary sites will have access to a secret ballot method of voting. It is time that we support electronic online voting.

Announcement

The Committee to Elect Proactive Leaders

UTR MARCH ELECTION

SUPPORT CHANGE IN THE UNITED TEACHERS OF RICHMOND VOTE IN THE MARCH ELECTIONS!

ALL TEACHERS MUST VOTE!!!

Members now have a choice and an opportunity to make deep and powerful changes in union leadership. The UTR Proactive Committee wants a union leadership who will protect our member’s rights, and join teachers, and students in the fight to save public education.

Challenge the Current President’s History of 35 Years in UTR Leadership!

Press Release

Richmond Teachers to Hold Union Elections after Recent Contract Controversy

Challenge the Current President’s History of 35 Years in UTR Leadership!

The United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) want a change to proactive leadership. The Committee to Elect Proactive Leadership will run a slate in the upcoming March Elections for a new UTR President and Executive Board. The Committee to Elect Proactive Leadership believes it is time that our members have a union conscious leadership committed to true collaboration, communication, and transparency. Recently, there has been increasing controversy and unrest within UTR.

On December 14, 2009 UTR teachers narrowly ratified a disastrous concessionary tentative agreement (TA), new contract, which is disastrous for teachers and students of West Contra Costa Unified School District. This contract was ratified by a narrow margin of eight votes, or 23% of the membership in a faulty rushed vote process.

In May 2009, rank-and-file voted 98% to reject the districts’ demands of givebacks and concessions. In August, 2009 members passed a 93% strike authorization vote.

For 18 months, the UTR leadership paid no attention to members and continually pushed unpopular and unwanted cuts. Members fought to save health insurance premiums, class size maximums and furloughs and got no support from the current UTR leadership.

The UTR leadership opposed members’ willingness to fight against cuts and concessions. In their determination to ram concessions down members’ throat, UTR union leaders broke our democratic bylaws and standing rules. Challenges to the election results and procedures to collect signatures to recall President, Pixie Hayward Shickele have been filed.

UTR members will have the opportunity to make deep and powerful changes in union leadership. More information on candidates and campaign platforms in the March UTR Elections will be posted on our blog @ TheProactiveUTRleadership.blogspot.com

Contact Information: Eric Swabeck, (510) 501-7347 Margaret Browne, (510) 672 1898