On April 3, teachers of Hayward School District went on strike after an insulting pay raise offer from the administration. The strike began with a district-wide picket line outside the high schools, middle schools and elementary schools of Hayward Unified.
The teachers union, Hayward Teachers Association, estimated that 98 percent of all teachers participated. Students
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Unaware parents driving the students to school turned their vehicles around when they saw the striking teachers. Many families, however, were aware the strike was imminent and only 4,100 of Hayward’s Unified District’s 20,000 students attended school. Out of the four high schools in the district just seven percent of students attended class.
Even Superintendent Dale Vigil had to admit the broad community support for the teachers. When explaining the extremely low attendance Vigil said, “I know a lot of parents are supporting the teachers.”
Teachers, working under a three-year contract ending in June 2008, are demanding a 16.12 percent increase over two years. This is slightly lower pay raise than administrators voted to give themselves over the 2005-06 school year. Two assistant superintendents received a 16.84 percent pay raise over the last school year.
In addition to drawing broad community support, teachers also received support from prominent social justice leaders such as Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers and civil rights leader.
On April 6, Huerta—along with hundreds of educators, parents, students and other labor leaders—attended an hour-long rally before heading to the picket lines. The picket and rally put further pressure on the administration.
After just two days, the Hayward city council scrambled to quell the situation. City councilmembers Bill Quirk and Delores Rodriquez co-sponsored a resolution that would urge the Hayward Teachers Association and the Hayward Unified Administration to settle the dispute.
On April 10, councilwoman Rodriquez proposed that Hayward city council vote on the symbolic resolution that shows support for the striking teachers.
Striking Hayward teachers have shown their strength, organization and community support during this struggle. They have successfully garnered a significant amount of media attention to their struggle.
Naturally, some of the capitalist media coverage has favored the administration. Some outlets stooped as low as claiming the teachers were violent.
Where media has fallen short on accurate reporting, the teachers have resourcefully used tools such as an internet blog and video to give frequent updates and reports. The video reports are called, “Channel 16.84, The Truth,” after the 16.84 percent pay increase for the district superintendents.
News updates and video reports from Hayward teachers can be found at http://www.myspace.com/husdteachers.
The administration has resorted to tactics as offering inflated pay to scab substitute teachers, enticing people to cross the line. But, thus far, due to the strength of the teachers union and their deep roots in the community, the district’s tactics have not succeeded.
Contract negotiations resumed on April 12. After six hours, the administration refused all of the teachers proposals and Hayward Education Association announced plans for teachers to walk the picket line when classes resume on April 16.
