SEIU 1021 Dixon Unified School District classified professionals and teachers stand united in the face of stagnant negotiations
On Thursday, May 16th, SEIU 1021 Dixon Unified Schools classified professionals joined the Dixon Teachers Association (DTA) in solidarity as both unions face unmet demands for increased school investment during negotiations.
Teachers and staff are dedicated to student success and are asking the District to offer more competitive pay to incentivize more applicants so crucial roles can be filled. However, the Dixon School District Board is not compromising when it comes to investing enough of its budget in teachers and staff to meet the needs of our students. SEIU 1021 and DTA members picketed before the May 16 board meeting to speak directly to the board and highlight the critical need for more support.
“We work hard to ensure that our students thrive in every possible way we can support them, from clean campuses, providing much-needed additional classroom support for students, food services, and everything in between. But when we tell the District we need more investment in staffing to make this happen and, despite a healthy budget to do so, we are denied this demand, we begin to wonder where their priorities are,” said SEIU Dixon Unified Chapter President Andrew Rathjen, a paraprofessional for the district. “We all need to work together to help our students thrive, and to do that, we need the District to listen to the workers who see the needs firsthand.”
Dixon classified workers and teachers also came together in solidarity on Friday, May 10th, at different school sites around Dixon.
As of this morning, Tuesday, May 21st, there has been no response, but the Bargaining Team for SEIU 1021 members meet with District representatives again this Friday, May 24th to continue bargaining.