In response to the SCOTUS ruling for the plaintiff in Janus v. AFSCME, members and fair-share payers at public sector unions across California and the nation have been inundated with misleading and false propaganda regarding union responsibilities – this includes letters and emails that resemble correspondence from the State CTA and NEA offices. Do not believe this fake hyperbole.
To be clear, your job is not and was never at risk whether or not you joined the union. But we encourage and advocate for all employees to become union members, because at SMMCTA, we know we are at our strongest when we work together - for our students, our community and for our ourselves. While we all have a passion for education, our profession should not be viewed as an unpaid martyrdom. We believe in a strong voice at the table to bargain for working conditions, wages and benefits. This includes reversing the two-tiered healthcare plan currently in place at our district.
This decision is about taking away our freedom and power to stand together in negotiation. Kagen’s dissent is powerful and clear, never more so than in this statement. “The First Amendment was meant for better things. It was meant not to undermine but to protect democratic governance—including over the role of public-sector unions.”
CLICK HERE for some answers to questions you might have about the Janus ruling - including how to drop membership.
To be clear, your job is not and was never at risk whether or not you joined the union. But we encourage and advocate for all employees to become union members, because at SMMCTA, we know we are at our strongest when we work together - for our students, our community and for our ourselves. While we all have a passion for education, our profession should not be viewed as an unpaid martyrdom. We believe in a strong voice at the table to bargain for working conditions, wages and benefits. This includes reversing the two-tiered healthcare plan currently in place at our district.
This decision is about taking away our freedom and power to stand together in negotiation. Kagen’s dissent is powerful and clear, never more so than in this statement. “The First Amendment was meant for better things. It was meant not to undermine but to protect democratic governance—including over the role of public-sector unions.”
CLICK HERE for some answers to questions you might have about the Janus ruling - including how to drop membership.
The Digital Gap Between Rich Kids and Poor Kids is NOT What You Think," Nellie Bowles, The New York Times, October 26, 2018
"I Work 3 Jobs and Donate Plasma To Pay The Bills, This is What it's like to be a Teacher in America," Katie Reilly, TIME Magazine, September 13, 2018.
California Teachers of the Year Join Torlakson to Oppose Guns in Schools - CA Dept of Education, March 8, 2018
The West Virginia Teachers Strike was Rare, Militant and Victorious - HuffPost, March 7, 2018
Supreme Court Decision on Janus v AFSCME likely to Permanently Weaken Unions - NBC Think, February 26, 2018
America's Gun-Culture Problem - Atlantic Magazine, March 5, 2018
Asking Teachers To Carry Guns Is Just Another Way of Refusing to Respect Them - The Nation, March 6, 2018
A Bogus Free-Speech Argument at the Supreme Court is Union Busting in the Name of the 1st Amendment - LA Times, February 27, 2018
What Unions Do For The American Dream - Center For American Progress, September 9, 2015
Rightwing Alliance Plots Assault to "Defund and Defang" America's Unions - The Guardian, August 30, 2017
Union Declines Lowers Wages For All Workers - Executive Policy Institute, August 30, 2016
Want to Fix Schools? Go to the Principal's Office - New York Times, March 10, 2017
John Adams Middle School Walk in (Photos in the Santa Monica Daily Press)
Santa Monica Election Results November 2016
There's a Big Learning Curve in SMMUSD, for Teachers - Santa Monica Daily Press, August 13, 2016
Experts Say Teachers Are Being Taught Bad Science - Hechinger Report, May 13, 2016
Improving Equity in SMMUSD a "Daunting" But Worthy Task - Santa Monica Daily Press, April 11, 2016
Bias Training at SMMUSD - Santa Monica Daily Press, March 16, 2016
Santa Monica High School Making AP Classes More Inclusive - Santa Monica Daily Press, February 5, 2016
Putting California First In Driving Education Reform - Ed Source, February 3, 2016
Villaraigosa on Why He Opposes Friedrichs, His Take on Charter Schools - LA School Report, February 1, 2016
$312,500 Raised by Education Foundation for Santa Monica-Malibu Schools - Santa Monica Lookout, January 12, 2016
Teacher Shortages Spur Nationwide Hiring Scramble (Credentials Optional) - New York Times, August 9, 2015
"I Work 3 Jobs and Donate Plasma To Pay The Bills, This is What it's like to be a Teacher in America," Katie Reilly, TIME Magazine, September 13, 2018.
California Teachers of the Year Join Torlakson to Oppose Guns in Schools - CA Dept of Education, March 8, 2018
The West Virginia Teachers Strike was Rare, Militant and Victorious - HuffPost, March 7, 2018
Supreme Court Decision on Janus v AFSCME likely to Permanently Weaken Unions - NBC Think, February 26, 2018
America's Gun-Culture Problem - Atlantic Magazine, March 5, 2018
Asking Teachers To Carry Guns Is Just Another Way of Refusing to Respect Them - The Nation, March 6, 2018
A Bogus Free-Speech Argument at the Supreme Court is Union Busting in the Name of the 1st Amendment - LA Times, February 27, 2018
What Unions Do For The American Dream - Center For American Progress, September 9, 2015
Rightwing Alliance Plots Assault to "Defund and Defang" America's Unions - The Guardian, August 30, 2017
Union Declines Lowers Wages For All Workers - Executive Policy Institute, August 30, 2016
Want to Fix Schools? Go to the Principal's Office - New York Times, March 10, 2017
John Adams Middle School Walk in (Photos in the Santa Monica Daily Press)
Santa Monica Election Results November 2016
There's a Big Learning Curve in SMMUSD, for Teachers - Santa Monica Daily Press, August 13, 2016
Experts Say Teachers Are Being Taught Bad Science - Hechinger Report, May 13, 2016
Improving Equity in SMMUSD a "Daunting" But Worthy Task - Santa Monica Daily Press, April 11, 2016
Bias Training at SMMUSD - Santa Monica Daily Press, March 16, 2016
Santa Monica High School Making AP Classes More Inclusive - Santa Monica Daily Press, February 5, 2016
Putting California First In Driving Education Reform - Ed Source, February 3, 2016
Villaraigosa on Why He Opposes Friedrichs, His Take on Charter Schools - LA School Report, February 1, 2016
$312,500 Raised by Education Foundation for Santa Monica-Malibu Schools - Santa Monica Lookout, January 12, 2016
Teacher Shortages Spur Nationwide Hiring Scramble (Credentials Optional) - New York Times, August 9, 2015