Oakland teachers furious about imposed contract
Friday, April 23, 2010
MORE EDUCATION
(04-22) 16:25 PDT OAKLAND -- In a rare move that has infuriated teachers, the Oakland Board of Education has quit labor negotiations and imposed a no-raise contract that will free the district to increase class size and save up to $3 million.
On Thursday, a day after hundreds of teachers stormed out of a meeting in which the school board unanimously approved the one-sided contract, Superintendent Tony Smith tried to soothe the fury and explain the district's unusual decision.
"It is an unfortunate and sad time," Smith said. Oakland teachers "are among the lowest paid in the East Bay. It's absolutely inadequate."
He said the district has to cut $85 million - about a quarter of its budget - but will not cut salaries or health benefits. Instead, dozens of teachers will be laid off, elementary class sizes will grow, and schools and programs will close, he said.
Smith, who arrived in Oakland nearly a year ago, said labor negotiations had gone on for two years and were at an impasse. He said it was necessary to impose a contract so that the district could immediately begin to cut costs.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/23/BA001D2TRE.DTL#ixzz0lvsQi4Cb