PVFT Update

By Francisco Rodriguez, Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers

PVFT members rally on Green Valley Road in Watsonville

In a year when the Pajaro Valley Unified School District will receive millions of dollars in increased revenue, is sitting on a $40 million dollar reserve, and is giving the District management a raise, they have proposed take-backs in total preparation time for teachers and offered no relief from the increased workloads that teachers took on during years of financial hardship. While PVFT is encouraged that all members of our unit are included in a proposed salary increase, the District has so far not presented contract language to decrease class sizes or caseloads through June of 2015. Teachers and other Certificated personal continue to work to contract, attend Board meetings to share their stories, and hold informational pickets and demonstrations.

On September 19, the same day Watsonville and Pajaro Valley High School Students walked out of class in support of teachers, the District declared negotiations were at an impasse, and PVFT agreed. Working with a mediator from the State Mediation and Reconciliatory Services, the parties met in mediation session on October 18 and again October 28. Unfortunately, were unable to come to an agreement and the Mediator released us to Fact Finding. PVFT is hopeful that class size reduction language and adequate preparation time for all our members will be part of any negotiated settlement.

Read the 10/29/13 PVFT Press Release, "Negotiations between PVUSD and PVFT move to Fact Finding"

PVFT rally in Soquel