From CUEA, the Capistrano Unified Educators’ Assocation
ALISO VIEJO – Victorious in their struggle to achieve a negotiated settlement, Capistrano teachers and their students will return to their classrooms Tuesday, April 27, ending CUEA’s five-day strike, the first such action by teachers in southern California in almost ten years.
“It is the courage and determination of CUEA members on the picket lines and the thousands of supportive district parents and community members that resulted in the tentative contract agreement with the CUSD Board of Education,” said CUEA President Vicki Soderberg.
Brief details of the tentative agreement are as follows:
- Restoration of salary and furlough days as revenues increase
- Health benefit POS rates based on district 2010 level of contributions instead of imposed 2009 level
- Contract language that improves working conditions and that contains more objective surplus transfer language and improvements in leaves
- A three-year agreement with bargaining reopened in the 2011-2012 school year.
The CUEA bargaining team and leadership cannot find words adequate to express their appreciation for CUEA members’ solidarity and support during this difficult time,” said Soderberg. “It is without question that this victory could not have been achieved absent our unity and collective action. When we go back into the classroom together, we can hold our heads high.”
Members of the CUEA Executive Committee will meet at CUEA offices Tuesday afternoon to receive the tentative agreement’s details and to vote on recommending it to the CUEA’s Rep Council that will vote Wednesday on sending it to the CUEA general membership for possible ratification. CUEA members will have the opportunity to participate in informational meetings at times yet to be determined prior to a ratification vote.