CHICO September 13, 2010 – By a unanimous decision, the Chico Unified Teachers Association (CUTA) authorized a vote that would give the CUTA Executive Board authority to declare a strike against the Chico Unified School District.
More than 600 members of CUTA are expected to rally today, Sept. 13, at the city’s municipal building, 441 Main St., Chico, to urge District officials to agree to a fair contract settlement.
The rally will take place at 3:30 p.m., while both sides are engaged in a fact finding session, the last procedure of the 2009-10 negotiations process, before the District can unilaterally impose its demands.
In spite of the fact that the District began the year with nearly $20 million in reserve, their only proposal has been permanent, ongoing cuts to teacher compensation equaling 11.5 percent. In an effort to avoid a strike, CUTA offered concessions totaling a 4 percent reduction. The District refused the offer stating in writing, “CUSD cannot accept CUTA’s proposal of July 28, 2010, because it does not satisfy our core bargaining interests. As one key Example, CUTA has proposed only one year of savings.”
According to the California Department of Education (CDE) preliminary calculations indicate that Chico Unified School District is in line to receive $2,352,323 through Senate Bill 847 Education Jobs Fund http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/edjobsfund.asp. An 11% CUTA pay reduction is equivalent to 4.4 million dollars. The new monies should increase budget flexibility and offer brighter solutions.
WHAT: Rally in support of a fair contract settlement.
WHEN: Today, Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Old Municipal Building, 441 Main St, Chico.
VISUALS: Teachers in CUTA t-shirts with signs.
The 600-member CUTA is an affiliate of the 325,000-member CTA and the 3.2 million-member National Education Association
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