School Strikes for Dummies
Posted: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 7:11 am | Updated: 12:37 pm, Wed Feb 2, 2011.
So the news is that at least one teacher union in San Diego County is considering a strike action because they are not satisfied with the potential layoffs, reductions in service, class size, pay and other working conditions in their district. There will be much more saber rattling in the next few months as school districts confront the massive cost increases of doing business and the lack of state funds. Just wait!
In order to understand how all this works, one must have some idea of the rules of engagement that apply in California. Collective bargaining is addressed by the Rodda Act. The act outlines processes for contracts between the school district and its employee unions. In California there are two main teachers unions and some hybrids. In San Diego County, the major K-12 teacher unions are affiliates of CTA (The California Teachers Association), except for Poway, which is represented by PFT (The Poway
