Borrowing from the words of Cesar Chavez, the late founder of the United Farm Workers  movement, CTA President Barbara E. Kerr boldly told the State Council of Education, "Si, Se Puede!"– Yes, we can! – when it comes to turning back the governor's attacks on public education and teachers.

 

The governor may have pulled his pension initiative, but Kerr notes he still wants to:

But Kerr pointed out many, many ways that CTA and its hundreds of chapters have already responded to the governor's plans. Through a concerted ad campaign on television and radio, CTA has confronted the governor head-on in his attacks. And the barrage of ads is having an impact, Kerr noted.

 

"The governor's Hollywood star is getting a little tarnished. His job approval ratings have fallen from 65 percent in September of last year to 42 percent last week," Kerr said. "It's the first time they've fallen below 50 percent."

 

All over California, local chapters are getting the word out to members and the community that the governor's so-called "reforms" and efforts to paint unions as "special interests" are little more than proposals to line the pockets of his big business pals who are raising millions of dollars "and who are the true special interests in Sacramento," she said.

 

"These actions – whether local education coalition events, joint efforts with other unions and our coalition partners, or simply your local chapter – are so important to making sure our voices are heard," she said.

 

Despite the fact that the governor has pulled his pension reform initiative, Kerr said the coalition that has been forged with law enforcement and firefighters will remain, and will remain strong.

 

"We remain united," Kerr said. "Our next move is to get the governor to dump the rest of his worthless agenda and call off this special interest election."

 

 

 

While CTA urges its members and the public not to sign the governor's petitions that are on the street, it has also joined a broad coalition of labor unions and school administrators called the Alliance for a Better California to support four initiatives of its own, in addition to one other petition.

 

The four initiatives the Alliance is asking the public to sign include:

In addition, CTA is supporting a fifth initiative:

Gov. Schwarzenegger may not have intended it to happen, but he has been one of the biggest catalysts for change and one of the best organizers CTA has had in years, according to CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett.

 

Up and down the state, CTA chapters are reaching out to members who are angered and hurt by a governor whom they feel is betraying public education and teachers, Doggett told State Council in her Sunday morning address.

 

Doggett observed that there is an entire new generation of members and staff. Many of CTA's members are new teachers who never fought the battle for collective bargaining, never went through a strike, grew up in an atmosphere of anti-unionism, and see the union as a service that is provided to them, rather than an organization they are part of. But now, they are becoming involved in their union like never before.

 

"That's why, when I see all the organizing going on throughout the state, I want to give Gov. Schwarzenegger a big thank you," she said. 

 

Doggett noted that CTA chapters took President Kerr's words to heart when she urged members in January: Don't Agonize. Organize!

 

Chapters around the state have made contributions to the campaign to defeat the governor's initiatives. In Fontana, for example, members are sending out runners to block the governor's signature-gatherers. High Desert chapters are organizing at rest stops along I-15, offering travelers water and free coffee along with a message against the governor's agenda. With just four hours notice, 250 people — led by retired teachers — showed up to picket an appearance by the governor in Santa Rosa. Merced-Mariposa chapters are planning over 100 barbecues to make sure members stay involved over the summer. On May 11, Day of the Teacher, the Golden Gate Service Center Council is planning to line El Camino Real with teachers from San Bruno to Menlo Park.

 

All these efforts, Doggett said, will not only help defeat the governor's agenda, but will help CTA become stronger for it.

 

"I am totally optimistic that what we are doing will positively impact the lives of thousands of students and children," Doggett said.

 

 

 

Council elected CTA and NEA board directors as well as members of the ABC committee. Those elected include:

 

Ken Johnson as NEA Alternate Director. Others elected by waiving the ballot are: Larry Allen, incumbent CTA director, Dist. A; Paula Caplinger, incumbent CTA director Dist. E; Don Bridge, CTA director Dist. K; Tom Conry, incumbent CTA director Dist. N;  David Hernandez, CTA director, minority, at-large; Marc Knapp, CTA/NEA coordinating director; Carol J. Matthews, NEA Alter. Dir; Pam Kinsley, CTA/ABC committee Dist. G; Leslie Littman, ABC Dist. I; Heidi Chipman, ABC committee Dist M; and Roslyn J. Jones, ABC committee, Dist. O.

 

 

Recognizing that California needs a health care system that provides adequate health care to all Californians, especially families and children, State Council voted to support SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA).

 

The bill, sponsored by state Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica),  would create a single-payer health care financing system and universal coverage for  all. CHIRA is one of the only plans on the horizon that would offer high quality, affordable and reliable health care. More information can be found at the website, www.healthcareforall.org. Members are urged to send letters of support for the bill to Sen. Kuehl's office, State Capitol, Room 5108, Sacramento, CA 95814.