AFT-CFT AFL-CIO Local 1936
		April 30, 2004 Volume 8, Issue 13

PVFT 35 years proud

In January 1969, the American Federation of Teachers issued a charter to the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers. For 35 years, PVFT has provided leadership for the collective voice of our members.

The union has weathered many trying times. In 1973, PVFT members walked the picket line during a three-day strike and came out victorious with a sizable raise. In 1993, PVFT negotiated a teacher pay cut in order to keep the district solvent and our brand-new president, Carolyn Savino, coordinated 135 teacher layoffs.

The union has worked with an array of superintendents from controlling to cooperative. We not only survived Year-round Education, but union negotiations made the process of change easier and equitable.

PVFT negotiators are back at the bargaining table working on our contract that expires on June 30, 2004. They will uphold the PVFT tradition to do what's best for teachers and students.

Feel free to drop by the PVFT office to view the original charter. Two of the charter members still teach in PVUSD: Judith Ikeda of Calabasas and Ronald Jones of WHS. We congratulate these two union members who made it through the long haul! You may recognize some of the other PVFT pioneers. A few recently retired. Maybe some were even your teachers!

Donald Albert, Richard Bendix, Paul Bourns, Hugh Boyes, Donald Brown, Janet Brown, Laurence Byer, Kenneth Call, Gertrude Carmely, Gary Christensen, Richard Crum, Marjorie Dial, Patricia Dyke, Douglas Early, Evelyn De Moss, Patricia Fischer, Opal Gibbs, Richard Gibbs, Owen Hand, Kenneth Harrison, Mas Hashimoto, Donald Hogan, Jr., Richard Holly, William Johnson, Roy Kleffer, Robin Jans, Ronald Jaye, Maryella Kerns, Deane Kramer, John Lindsay, Gordon Lion, Harry Lively, George McCandless, David Miller, Patricia Moyer, Nancy Pearson, Del Pezzoni, Ruth Price, David Rich, Ronald Richardson, O'Brien Riordan, John Sergent, George Schuncke, Jane Scherich, Jack Spurlock, Mary Jo Stetzel, Marshall Stout, Michael Sullivan, Anthony Taravella, John Weber and Thomas Wright.

News for you - COPE Crusade

The PVFT Committee on Political Action continues to promote the Buck-a-Month Club! To join the committee, all you need to do is sign the blue card and fill in $1, $2 or more per month and give it to your building rep. Download a COPE payroll deduction form by clicking on the forms button.

Plan an AFT vacation
To find out how to participate in your union, plan to attend the July 6-11 AFT Union Leadership Institute in Asilomar.
PVFT will also send a limited number of participants to Washington, D.C. this July 13-17 for the AFT Convention.
Contact the union office if you want to learn more, 722-2331.

Every 6 minutes in the U.S. a teen gets hurt at work. Teachers, hit the Internet and find lessons about child-labor history and current safety standards. Three students will win $200-$400 and their school papers will win $100-$300 for an article published in that paper dealing with safe jobs for youth. Download details from www. youngworkers.org . Entries due by June 14.

Visit www.fieldsofhope.org, for great photos and a Teacher Guide. Learn and teach about 250 million child workers ages five through 14, many working more than half time and many in dangerous situations.

On April 28, Terry McHenry presented the current budget outlook for the next three years and recommended that the Board agree to take the 2% pay cut and the 0% cap on benefits off the table, to keep transportation in place for next year, and to add $200,000 to the budget to keep music and GATE programs intact. The majority of the board agreed with his recommendations with very little hesitation. Thanks for the support!

We severely criticized President DeHart on the way she handled a recent contentious meeting. We now want to acknowledge her efforts to be more assertive in taking control of meetings and keeping them running in an orderly and productive manner. Good job, Rhea!

In response to some trustees talking to the press before clarifying district actions which resulted in poor press for the district, the Board has directed staff to develop a policy that will deal with these misunderstandings in a professional, proactive way. Good leadership!