Are you better off today than you were three years ago?
February 1 and still no decent pay raise offer and considering that the cost of living for the past three years has gone up 6.6%, any pay raise less than 7% is a slap in the face of Teachers and Health and Human Service Workers.
John Perez has been negotiating for 16 months without mobilizing teachers and health and human service workers. Our strength lies in our 45,000 members, yet Mr. Perez continues to negotiate in a vacuum.
Mr. Perez Claims:
That he negotiated a pay raise as president of UTLA.
The Facts:
A 3% cost of-living adjustment was not negotiated by him. It was imposed upon us and showed up on our July 2002 paycheck.
Mr. Perez Claims:
That the cutback from 11 to 8 mini-districts was a major victory during his presidency.
The Facts:
According to his own negotiation updates, the number of $100,000 or higher positions as quadrupled and the budget for central office and mini-districts has increased by $32 million.
Mr. Perez Claims:
Credit for electing two pro-education LAUSD School Board members.
The Facts:
If this is true, why does our paper work continue to grow and why are we forced to teach test-taking skills rather than teaching students academic life skills?
Mr. Perez Claims:
That under his leadership UTLA has developed a coordinated plan for demonstrations and job actions.
The Facts:
Why have we had no more then 1,200 members at any demonstration in the past two years?
Which Mr. Perez are we to believe? The candidate who claims victory in his campaign literature or the information he puts out in his negotiation updates???
Isn’t it time for UTLA to have a president who will be straight with you, no matter what?