Hundreds of East Bay educators picketing to advocate for student needs

Hundreds of educators who are part of the East Bay Coalition for Student Success are picketing Wednesday afternoon to advocate for student needs in about a dozen locations.

It’s the first time the coalition, comprised of 21 California Teachers Association (CTA) chapters, has held a coordinated picket, according to union officials. 

“It doesn’t have to come down to this, but several management teams from different districts are giving us no choice,” Celia Medina-Owen, president of the Pittsburg Education Association, said in a statement. “Together, we are saying loud and clear that bad behavior will not be tolerated in our communities.”

Educators, students, and families are rallying at nearly a dozen locations from 3:30 to 5 p.m., CTA officials said. 

The Association of Pleasanton Teachers and the Dublin Teachers Association, picketing at Dublin Sports Goods, are both soon entering fact-finding — the last step in bargaining before leadership in local chapters can legally call an economic strike.

Other East Bay union locals that are rallying aren’t far behind Pleasanton and Dublin, including Antioch Education Association, Pittsburg Education Association, Contra Costa County Schools Education Association, Clayton Valley Education Association, Martinez Education Association, Association of Piedmont Teachers and Moraga Teachers Association.

“Chapters are also considering Unfair Labor Practice strikes depending on management’s actions through these processes,” union officials said in a statement. “Management from various districts are putting up barriers to reaching negotiated agreements, which means that many chapters may be strike legal at the same time.”