2007 Negotiations: Claire Merced Interview

Marshall High Spanish teacher, and veteran UESF Negotiator, Claire Merced
shares her thoughts on negotiations in the SF Educator.

Tales from the Table
An Interview with Veteran UESF Negotiator Claire Merced
From the February, 2007 edition of the SF Educator

Ever wonder what really goes on at the bargaining table? How decisions are made? How things get resolved? The SF Educator recently sat down with veteran UESF negotiator Claire Merced to find out these answers and more, including her outlook on the coming round of negotiations. Claire, a Spanish teacher at Marshall High School, has been in the district since 1989, and has been on the UESF negotiating team since 1990.

How is the bargaining team chosen? Who sits at the table?

Having representation from different job classifications of our membership is important. We have teachers (high school, middle school, elementary, child development), paraprofessionals, nurses, substitutes, and folks from the CTA and CFT. Everyone is very knowledgeable in their particular area of expertise. They are nominated by the President of the Union, and then confirmed by the Executive Board.

What are the keys to success during negotiations?

Well, first of all, it helps to have as much input as possible from the membership. The survey that we do is very important. It enables us to prioritize what areas of the contract need to be improved, and what things we should leave alone. Last year, that’s how we got to our three central themes – safer schools, fair pay, and equal protection. It came straight out of those surveys.

Organization is also key. Everyone must take notes on the issues we discuss, not just our Secretary, Susan Solomon. Sometimes we discuss an issue one day, and then a month goes by before we talk about it again. You’ve got to be able to refer to your notes, and what others understood from the prior discussion. This requires a tremendous degree of patience and focus.

But above all, you’ve got to keep your cool when you are at the table. When you lose your temper, or let it get to you emotionally, you lose energy. Our team is focused and controlled, we actively listen, we take notes. That’s why we have staying power.

What is your area of expertise?

My area of expertise is high schools. What I bring to the table is an understanding of issues that affect high school teachers and paras. For example, the need for prep periods, workload issues, the rights of department chairs, the length of the day, and the length of the calendar.

Any particular moment stick out in your mind from the table?

Oh yes! We were in negotiations during the administration of former Superintendent Bill Rojas. We were identifying areas of the budget that could be used to help raise our salaries. But every time we pointed something out, the next time we came to the table, the money would mysteriously (or not so mysteriously) be gone. After a couple of times we realized that the district negotiators were moving the money to a different page to hide it. So, we started to color code the budget, and track where things were moving. Soon enough the money resurfaced, and we could negotiate.

How important is it that teachers and paras in the schools are active during negotiations?

It’s so important. The membership has to be alert, to keep us on our toes, give us ideas and support. Taking action at the schools sites, and participating in rallies really sends the message that we are all in this together.

This past year, as we mobilized for a possible strike, it was the most exciting I’ve ever seen. Everyone was wearing t-shirts, they were out in the community. What I saw last year was extraordinary. At my site it was impressive. The school was at a total low point – with five administrators in six years, programs being dismantled, constant construction - but people were energized. They really put themselves out there. And not just at my school, from throughout the district. I thought, I can’t let these people down.

What was the big moment from the bargaining table last year?

It was that last night at the hotel, when we finally got down to resolving the money issues. We had taken the strike vote earlier, and were hours short of the point of no return. There were moments that got so heated and emotional - I doubted whether it would happen. With the strike vote it was clear what we had to do. But the district had just advertised to hire scabs, offering all of this money. Our members were concerned about the strike, but willing to go out. The district understood this, and ultimately we prevailed. But it was close.

What would you like to accomplish in negotiations this year?

We have a much stronger contract, thanks to all that we accomplished last year. But it still needs some work. Teachers and paras need to be able to afford to live in the Bay Area, raise a family in the Bay Area, and retire here too. So, money is always an issue. Beyond that, we need to have support and protections to best do our jobs. For example, we should fight to get equality for paraprofessionals and substitutes - enough hours, pay, and training to be able to do their jobs. Security paras need more training. We must protect sabbaticals. These are just a few examples, but you get what I’m saying.

How do you feel going into this round of talks?

I feel very confident with the team we have in place. We have prepared for months, are clear in our objectives, and are ready to negotiate.

I’m really proud of working with Dennis and Linda and my fellow negotiators. I feel that with them we can’t lose. I hope that we can continue to represent people well at the table - trying to be proactive, not reactive.

This is a very tough profession. We want to be happy and to make the kids happy. But the city doesn’t take care of so many things. Students live very difficult lives. We constantly have to deal with issues that they bring that have nothing to do with school.

Students need us. But we also need to be taken care of. We want to be here, we enjoy the kids. We accept the challenges, but we need the support and the protection of the contract. A contract that allows us to stand up for our educational environment, and one that gives us financial security.

Para Perspective

Paraprofessional Janet Eberhardt is a Community Relations Specialist at Junipero Serra Elementary. She has been in the district for 21 years and on the UESF bargaining team since 1997. She offers her thoughts on negotiations:

“I think this year that we are very well prepared going in to negotiations. We’re focused; we’ve narrowed down the issues. Paras might not realize just how far we got in the last round of negotiations and we acknowledge that there is more to do, but we are making progress for paras.

“One thing we’ve got to make sure is that there is more parity between the para contract and the teacher contract. We’re one union, and an injury to one is an injury to all. Far too long the contracts have been unequal.

“It's hard for paras. Hours are often cut. Many have to work second jobs. The wages are low and we don't get the respect for the important work that we do. But we continue to do it, for the need is greater than us. We value our job and the work we do for children. We do it with passion. I would love to be able to go home and not think about the kids and my job, but I can't. It is my philosophy! I will continue to fight the fight for what is right!

“I'm glad that equality is a priority of the bargaining team. The time is now! We have really worked hard to build a stronger union and with the support of the members, we are a stronger bargaining team. Paras get involved and support your union.”