Huntington Beach : Teachers Picket in Bid for ‘Good-Faith’ Job Talks

More than 100 teachers demonstrated outside two Huntington Beach Union High School District schools Tuesday morning to demand “good-faith” salary negotiations, and 350 more showed up at the school board’s evening meeting to pressure the administration.

The teachers, contending that the district has not budged from its original negotiating position while they have made concessions, participated in informational picketing, including passing out flyers before school Tuesday at Fountain Valley and Edison high schools.

Huntington Beach District Educators Assn. President Doug Scott said the picketing could spread to all seven of the district’s campuses if there is no movement on the part of the administration and Board of Trustees.

Salary negotiations between the district and the 782-member association are at a stalemate, with the district offering a 1% pay raise and teachers, librarians and nurses holding out for 5%.

Some of the placards carried by the disgruntled teachers read “1%--Lowest Raise in California” and “Down With the Unfair School Board.” About 20 teachers addressed the board Tuesday night, calling for “fair” negotiations and benefits.

Last month, after negotiations broke down, a state mediator was unable to settle the dispute, and another mediation session was set for this Thursday. “I certainly hope something will come of it,” Scott said, adding that the district must be willing to make some concessions.

The association has halved its salary-increase demand from 10% and has dropped a call for binding arbitration in contract disputes, Scott said.

But, he continued, “the basic fact is that the board has refused to budge from its 1% offer. It is the only offer they have made. There has been absolutely no movement on the part of the board. We’re told what wonderful people we are, but are shown nothing.”

However, Assistant Supt. Glen Dysinger said the next move is up to the union. “They made a 5% offer and we countered with 1%,” he said. “I don’t think there is any doubt in their minds that a 3% contract would be available.” (A 3% wage increase was recently granted to blue-collar workers.)

“It’s easy to ask for things, then say you’ve stopped asking for them as a concession,” he said. “They’re asking for things; we’re granting things. It’s a different perspective.”