Dear Colleagues
Dear Colleagues
As a veteran DPS teacher I am frustrated and disgusted with the current stalemate of negotiations. We repeat the same pathetic cycle year after year. Negotiations break down and mediation fails in the spring and we go into the summer without any closure.
We should ask why this continues to happen. I am a long time DCTA member and I have supported my union by participating in the various meetings, building actions, and rallies year after year. We go through the same exercises and end up with the same results: nothing.
I am finding it difficult to have faith in our union to bargain effectively. I can’t see that we have made any gains in the last decade. Our power and influence seems to continue to diminish more each year. Our standing in the community and press is dismal. The constant turn over of teachers in this district has a serious impact on our ability to maintain a consistent and effective learning environment for our students. It simply makes our job that more difficult. It is frustrating because we never seem to get all the information. There always seems to be confusion and disagreement on what is being said or offered by the district and DCTA.
Perhaps it’s time for change in DCTA leadership. Our current methods are clearly not working and our bargaining team is apparently not able to represent or fully understand our needs and cannot deliver an agreement that will allow us to attract and retain quality teachers.
There is reason to be optimistic. I have read both proposals, and I am encouraged we finally have a record high amount of money available and the district wants to give it to teachers. If all teachers are going to receive more money, how can we turn this down? Raising the starting salary to $44,000 is something we should have done a long time ago. It would be nice to have people stick around for a while.
The whole time issue seems to be an unnecessary distraction. It shouldn’t be that difficult. Why can’t we allow the staffs to design their workday?
Why waste more time on mediation and useless job actions. Teachers should simply be able to vote on the proposals and decide for ourselves.
Posted by denvernewteachers08
at 9:13 PM MDT