Oakland teachers vote on allowing union leaders to call strike
OAKLAND — Hundreds of Oakland teachers voted Monday on a proposal that would allow union leadership to call for further actions, including an indefinite strike.
The votes won't be tallied until this evening, but the teachers union president and others interviewed outside the meeting said they sensed strong support in favor of the authorization. Last Thursday, the union held a one-day strike; about 90 percent of teachers stayed out of school.
"I have a gut feeling that this is going to pass," said Betty Olson-Jones, Oakland Education Association president.
Olson-Jones stressed that union leaders weren't rushing to call a strike. The school district administration, which imposed a so-called "status quo" contract on the union late last month, has asked teachers to return to the table to discuss ways to increase teacher compensation.
An amendment made to Monday night's proposal would require an additional vote — by the union representatives from each school — before an extended strike could be called by the union's executive board.
LIVERMORE — Livermore Unified School District trustees tonight will introduce a familiar face as the district's new superintendent.Kelly Bowers, the district's current assistant superintendent of educational services, is the Board of Education's unanimous choice for a new schools chief,