Orange School Strike Talks Resume

A state mediator revived negotiations between striking teachers and Orange Unified School District officials Thursday.

Draza Mrvichin, a mediator noted for settling difficult strikes, called teachers union and district negotiators into session at the Doubletree Hotel at The City in Orange at 1 p.m. Thursday. District officials said the talks were scheduled to be “very informal.”

Nonetheless, both sides in the tense labor dispute expressed hope that the end was near in the 15-month deadlock over a pay raise and contract for the 1,100 teachers in the 24,500-student district.

Strike to Continue

Formal talks broke off at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, and Mark Rona, teachers union president, said a strike would continue until a settlement was reached.

Barring a settlement in Thursday’s closed-door session, teachers are scheduled to remain on strike today. All previous bargaining sessions have collapsed just as settlement seemed imminent.

The school district’s last publicly announced offer to the teachers was for a 2.54% one-time-only bonus for the current school year. The teachers union, the Orange Unified Education Assn., said its last proposal was for a 3% regular pay increase--rather than a bonus--retroactive to last July 1.

The six-day strike saw more picketing Thursday, massive truancy at the high schools and an outdoor meeting called by concerned parents that fell apart after speakers were jeered by students and others in the crowd.

Teacher absence did not drop substantially on Thursday, despite Rona’s fear that financial pressure on the strikers would erode picket lines. School district officials said 515 teachers were missing on Thursday, compared to 589 Wednesday.

Substitute teachers again staffed classes in the district’s 37 schools. But absenteeism was high. District officials said about 4,350 students were absent Thursday, and more than 3,000 of the absentees were from the four high schools.

High school students announced a coordinated “walkout for the teachers” at 11 a.m., and hundreds left campus. Many at El Modena High climbed wire fences to flee the school grounds.

“We definitely did it in support of the teachers,” said Brad Booth, 18, a senior at El Modena High. “The teachers deserve more money. . . . “

About 300 students from various high schools marched on the district office on Glassell Street in Orange and staged a demonstration. Many carried placards reading, “Students on strike for teachers” and “Time is of the essence, settle now.”

Units and Proper Grades

Assistant Supt. Roger Duthoy spoke to the marchers. “I really appreciate what you’re trying to do. You’re really in a tough spot,” he said. “You need to really separate the union from the teachers. You have some very good teachers, but I think they’re being misled by the union. . . .

“If you remain in the classroom, the administrators and the district can assure you will earn the units (for graduation), and you will get the proper grades.”

One student yelled, “Why should we go to school and earn the credits and sit in the classroom and do nothing? How can (substitute teachers) teach something they know nothing about?”

Duthoy responded, “It’s a fact that the substitute teachers can’t do the same kind of job that your regular teachers have been doing. That’s reality.”

About 25 of the truant students arrived at an 11:30 a.m. meeting of about 50 parents at W.O. Hart Memorial Park in Orange. Adele Graves, a parent from Orange, began the session by reading a short statement. “Our children are being used as pawns,” she said.

“Teachers have the responsibility . . . to provide services. . . . If they choose to walk picket lines and demonstrate . . . they can do so, and be as vocal as they want, but not during school time.”

Students and some parents began booing Graves, accusing her and other scheduled speakers of being “anti-teacher.” But she responded, “We’re not here to take sides.”

At a later rally at district headquarters, students were joined by scores of angry parents, some of whom circulated a petition for recall of the seven school board members.

“I assure you we’re working very hard to stretch the budget,” said District Supt. John Ikerd, who came out to speak to the crowd of about 400. “We’re trying to bring this thing to a closure.”

He was interrupted by jeers and boos, and one parent yelled, “We don’t want substitutes; we want quality teachers in the classrooms.”