A salary study commissioned by ABC Unified School District (ABCUSD) found that its custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and trade workers are among the lowest paid among other area school districts.  Despite their own research's suggestion to increase wages, ABCUSD is choosing to do nothing instead. ABCUSD and the employee union (AFSCME Local 2229) had previously negotiated to conduct the salary study. Local 2229 represents ABCUSD's custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and trade workers (electricians, carpenters and HVAC technicians).   The study compared six jointly selected school districts and the study was completed in June 2023.  In all job categories, ABCUSD employees were paid below average and in most categories, were last place or second to last. Since the studies completion, the Union has looked at even more districts and has found this situation to be generally true.  For example, the top salary for mechanics at ABC District is be...

ABC Unified School District teachers are on their third day of a ‘work slowdown’, an organized effort to bring attention to certain board members who are refusing to negotiate salary increases, as of February 9, 2022. Every year, ABC School District and teachers represented by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Local 2317, are supposed to negotiate a compensation package that covers cost of living and salary adjustments.  But since the pandemic, the teachers have not had any salary compensation, despite an increased workload. Almost all the blame seems to be placed on current Board majority, and teachers are asking for parents’ help by leaving messages to the school board that the District needs to negotiate a salary increase for ABC teachers. According to the teachers, Dr. Chris Apodaca, Ph.D (Trustee Area 7) and Dr. Olga Rios, Ph.D (Trustee Area 6) are the most supportive of the board members. Board members are often publicly supportive, but when it comes to action, those...

Cafeteria workers, maintenance, and bus drivers are all Local 2229  Bonnie Tyler sang an ‘80s anthem entitled “I Need a Hero.”  But the heroes of ABC Unified School District are not needed, at least that is the impression they’re getting from the the School Board.   The District’s representative told AFSCME Local 2229 that the Board gave a raise to the employees they most needed, the teacher s  who returned to schools to teach.  However, schools would not even be opened, much less remain open, without the work of essential workers like cafeteria and maintenance employees.  Community members, and other union members, these employees are asking for your support.  Please join AFSCME Local 2229 for a demonstration at the District Office on June 1 st  from  5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  The Board needs to understand these workers are just as essential to the District as the teachers. Throughout the pandemic, these workers: •  Replaced all the air...