12/14 Mt Diablo Education Workers To Rally To Protect Public Education
Steve Zeltzer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 13, 2010
Contact: Jeff Apkarian (925) 785-7598 or (916) 996-9170
Attn: Daybook/Assignment Desk for Tuesday
HUNDREDS OF 'BLUE' SCHOOL TEACHERS, EMPLOYEES
at MT. DIABLO SCHOOL DISTRICT RALLY TUESDAY
to PROTECT JOBS, KEEP STUDENTS & SCHOOLS SAFE
CONCORD – Dressed in all blue, hundreds of "blue" Mt. Diablo School
District teachers and other workers responsible for keeping schools
safe, clean, transporting students and feeding them will mass for a
"Blue Rally" at the district board meeting here Monday, Dec. 14 at
school district headquarters (1936 Carlotta Drive).
There will be a joint news conference and rally at 6 p.m prior to the
7:30 p.m. board meeting.
Employees are expected to maintain a "blue presence" at the board
meeting throughout the evening.
Employees insist they are not being respected in current contract
negotiations. Many employees say they won't be able to maintain a
basic "subsistence" life if radical district changes are made to their
contract, including severely limiting their work hours and raising the
cost of their healthcare.
The employees include those from Local One, California School
Employees Association and Mount Diablo Education Association who
provide classroom instruction, food service, office, technology,
classroom assistance, custodial service, landscape and maintenance
duties.
The unions have made major concessions to the District, but further
cuts, they say, will make it impossible to provide safe and clean
classrooms as well as a good education to students.
“We provide students with a quality educational experience by
maintaining clean and safe school sites, working in classrooms, food
service, transportation, technology, offices and maintenance. Parents
and the community depend upon us to keep schools safe, open and
running,” said Jeff Apkarian, the PEU1 spokesperson.
“We have responded to the current state budget crisis. We have offered
significant contract concessions. Our units have already offered
furlough days and a willingness to contribute a fixed dollar amount
toward medical benefits. But the district has refused our offers,”
added Apkarian.
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