“If teachers are not treated fairly, then the children and their communities are the ones that suffer.”

which I agree. Thus, I believe the final agreement will be reached at the extra cost of students and parents. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is happening.

Believe me Think, teachers do have our priorities straight, and the students in mind. If we did not insist on fair salaries, and strike to get them, our colleagues would continue to leave Hayward in droves for an early retirement, better paying districts or administrative positions. This would leave the children in the hands of a majority of new, inexperienced and often uncredentialed teachers who would earn experience, and move on after a few years. This situation creates a revolving door, and ultimately shapes substandard schools with no strong foundation, and no experienced teachers to mentor new teachers. Schools that do not have a strong teacher community of veteran teachers just do not offer children the strong academic program that they deserve. If teachers are not treated fairly, then the children and their communities are the ones that suffer. Teachers are tired of being treated poorly. We are at a point in Hayward where teachers cannot afford health insurance coverage or preschool for ourselves, nor our own children, and we do not qualify for any assistance. We have years of college education behind us. We would not be facing this situation in any other career with this many years of eduaction. This is criminal. The Board and Vigil should be ashamed. It is time for Hayward to stand up and demand that they resolve this in a fair manner. Hayward deserves and should demand schools, children, and teachers as qualified and well cared as Pleasanton! Maybe it is time to recall the board and Vigil. If Vigil were really interested in helping to “not bancrupt the district” as he states on the news, he would offer to give back his fat 16.84% raise. I am still not clear on what he has done to earn his huge salary for Hayward Unified during his tenure so far. Anyone ???

Thank you for consideration of our views, and please realize that we have been waiting for a decent raise for years now.

As a parent, you have probably not witnessed the internal workings of this school system.
There is a climate of disrespect toward teachers by district administration that I have never before seen in the 3 districts I have worked for. And there has been tolerance by teachers beyond what is reasonable for too long. This is not a dispute that has suddenly arisen. You could compare it to a pot that boils over, it’s been hot for awhile.

A year ago, when labor negotiations on this current contract began, the union made a modest request for a 3% cost of living increase. The district countered with offering us a 3% pay cut, citing the district’s financial crisis. We settled for a 0.84% raise, which did not cover the increase in our health insurance costs which we pay ourselves. So, in effect, we did take a pay cut. But, we agreed to do so to maintain the financial integrity of our schools. We also accepted larger class sizes, increased instructional minutes, and reduced classroom budgets. Many of us made up part of the difference by purchasing needed items for our classes such as roach spray and mouse traps (yes, you read that right), kleenex, markers, & paper out of our paychecks.

To then discover less than one year later that the district now has a surplus 4 times the required amount, has given administrators large raises, & has increased administrative costs as well, is more than disheartening.

Beyond that, one thing that no one has yet brought to the public’s attention is that Dr. Vigil’s attitude toward us has been something I have also never seen in a superintendent. At the December 22, 2006 district professional development inservice day, Dr. Vigil selected as a text to read aloud to the teachers, an article entitled the “Ludlow Massacre” on how Rockefeller broke a strike by police brutality, and the burning of the strikers’ tents resulting in worker deaths. This reading was witnessed by hundreds of high school teachers at Hayward High that day. It was hardly an appropriate or professionally respectful choice, given that at that point, labor negotiations had already broken down.

I work many hours of unpaid overtime in this job, because I feel responsible for the 90 students I teach daily. Dr. Vigil’s job involves responsibility for 20,000 students and his 1,300 teacher employees affected by this labor action. It is not unreasonable to ask him to postpone his vacation until a settlement is reached. Further, his statement that his negotiation team is here & he is not necessary is surprising, given that he is the one we have seen speaking to the press, talking with our union leadership, and sending the teachers emails re: the district’s position.

This strike is not an unpredictable or irresponsible action. We as teachers care deeply about the children of Hayward. We want both a salary & an environment of respect that will encourage our new teachers to stay. Right now, we have neither. To strike, we are temporarily giving up our salaries, our daily routines and the pleasure of working with the children, we are marching outside in the cold at 6:30am until 3:45pm in the hopes of a long-term better work environment for ourselves & the children of Hayward.

Thank you for your consideration of our views.

how can my child ever respect a teacher who yells at us and tries to block us from coming in and calls us stupid traitors when we are trying to get to school? (and i am not saying son or daughter because i don’t want somebody to punish my child for going to school and me for posting)

go back to classes and start teaching and start getting your priorities right. i thought you cared about students. i’m going on vacation for a couple of days like lots of you are. its silly to say someone can’t take a vacation during a school vacation.

I’m also curious about the rules for class-size
reduction — the district claims that at best,
elementary classrooms were staffed by subs
at a ratio of 30-to-1 (actual students in attendance).

I will admit some frustration at seeing Dr. Vigil on
TV over and over again, claiming that students who
come to school are receiving instruction, when in
fact they are not. This just underscores the trust
problem that the district has — so many lies, so
many unfulfilled promises. Teachers must really
love Hayward to continue to work here.