Faculty Meeting Boycott Q&A
Why are we launching boycotts?
LAUSD is sitting on $1.7 billion in unrestricted reserves while they refuse to improve class size or give educators a fair pay increase. The district is allowing unregulated charter schools to undermine our schools at the same time as they are refusing to negotiate a fair contract with educators. Our boycotts will also underscore our push for increased funding from the state—we cannot achieve the Schools LA Students Deserve with funding that ranks 46th out of 50 states. By compellingly demonstratingour ability to act collectively whenwe need to, we maximize the pressure on LAUSD to come to an agreement and on the state to address the funding crisis.
When are the boycotts?
UTLA members will boycott all afterschool faculty meetings (and similar meetingsheld after the instructional day) onMay 1, May 8, May 15, and May 22.The boycott must have 100% participationto compellingly demonstrate our unity andcommitment to achieving a fair contract.
What type of meetingsare we boycotting?
We are boycotting all after-school meetings, including faculty, grade level, department,and SLC, onMay 1, May 8, May 15, and May 22. At this time, UTLA is excludingfrom the boycott after-school parentconferences and participation by electedUTLA members on various site-governingcouncils. UTLA is NOT calling for boycottsof period-by-period faculty meetings(which occur in secondary schools)or other meetings that occur within thetraditional school day.
What should we do in placeof the faculty meetingswe are boycotting?
Chapters will have different ideas on this and we should be creative. We should hold quick, ten-minute, meetings in the school parking lot or on the sidewalk—a highlyvisible location where you will be seenby parents and probably administrators.Check in with your chapter chair at thatmeeting so you are certain to be countedas honoring the boycotts.
Won’t these kinds ofactions hurt my students?
No, our students are currently being hurtby a bureaucracy that will not offer competitivepay, lower class sizes, fully staffedschools, and a strong voice for parents and educatorsin school decision making. If there is somethingreally important that the principal hasto tell you in a meeting that is boycotted, theprincipal will find another way to relay the information to you.
I have a good relationship with myadministrators. Won’t these actionsharm our relationship?
The boycotts are not actions against any individual principal or administrator;they are a demonstration of our power toLAUSD.
What are the risks of participatingin the boycotts?
As boycott activities intensify, it is possible that you could be subject to discipline,such as a letter of reprimand. Sometimesrisks need to be taken for progress to occur.Our greatest protection comes from everyone of us participating in the boycotts. Ifthe district does issue discipline, we needto ensure that they have to do it to 34,000UTLA members.
As an out-of-classroom member,should I join the boycotts?
Absolutely! You are a member of UTLA and we need every member to join theeffort to send a strong message to LAUSDthat the district needs to offer us a faircontract.
I am a probationary teacher. Can Iparticipate in the boycotts?
Yes. You have the same rights as all other UTLA members in this contractcampaign and you have the same responsibilitiesto your colleagues in yourunion. No UTLA member has ever beenterminated or not rehired for participatingin high-profile UTLA actions likethese.
What should we do if some facultymembers don’t observe the afterschoolmeeting boycotts?
Talk with them and explain that they are undermining you and your coworkers andweakening our chances of achieving a faircontract and encourage them to participatein the next boycott.
What key points shouldI make with parents?
We urge you to have discussions with parents about why UTLA members areundertaking boycotts and how we hopethe boycotts will ultimately benefit studentlearning. Talk with parents about the needfor LAUSD to send more resources to schoolsso that we can have smaller class sizes, morenurses, more librarians, more counselors,and other crucial supports for students.