Teachers rally in favor of new union contract

Angelique Flores

About 300 teachers packed the Huntington Beach Union High School

District board room Tuesday night to rally support for their union which

is in the midst of contract negotiations.

Almost 30 teachers addressed the trustees at the board meeting with

grievances over low salaries, unsatisfactory benefits and working

conditions and a lack of respect.

“Give us an offer that doesn’t insult us,” said teacher Dave Tuttle.

The district is offering a 4% raise over the next two years, effective

in July.

The teachers have asked for a 6.8% raise, plus the 3.9% cost of living

adjustment, and 50% of any ongoing money the district will receive. This

hike will lift salaries up to the county average.

“If we’re turning out a good product, if the community thinks we’re

doing a good job, why doesn’t district administration reward their

teachers for doing a good job by having at least a competitive salary

schedule,” said Jim Pacelli, chairman of bargaining team.

The district has the highest class size of any in the county, said Jim

Harlan, executive directory of the West Orange County United Teachers.

“Yet we get the smallest salary increases over the last 10 years,”

Pacelli said. “It’s not an issue of money, but an issue of priorities.”

Some teachers expressed frustration at where district funds are going

such as the $3,000 toward desk equipment for one district administrator.

“We’re trying to make the school board understand that the offer

they’ve made to the teachers is to keep the teachers below the average,”

Pacelli said.

Other districts are already trying to recruit Huntington Beach

teachers, enticing them with higher salaries, Pacelli said. Low salaries

make it hard to attract new teachers and retain them, and being below the

county average isn’t going to keep teachers, he said.

“The board is receptive to listening to what their concerns are,” said

trustee Susan Henry.

Orange Unified School District has been troubled with teacher strikes

and a exodus of teachers from the district over the past several years.

Teachers say they don’t want to see the same occur in Huntington Beach,

but also do not want to settle for less then what they believe to be

fair.

“We’re willing to do anything we can to maintain the high standard our

community has grown to expect,” Pacelli said.

During the late 1970s the district saw several strikes.

“I can remember going to school board meetings at that time and

hearing the same comments as I heard [Tuesday] night,” Pacelli said.

Negotiations are still on the table with another meeting scheduled for

May 17.