Frequently asked questions
- Why are Clovis Educators unionizing?
- Are most California Educators Union?
- What have other Public-School Educators accomplished by Unionizing?
- What is the process for Unionizing?
- How do we bargain our first Union Contract?
- Will we lose current benefits, like Micare, by Unionizing?
- Is it possible that improvements we win through Unionizing could harm students?
- Does administration want us to Unionize?
- Can we get in trouble for Unionizing?
- I have a good relationship with my principal. We talk all the time. Will that change when we Unionize?
- My family has deep roots in Clovis Unified, is unionizing departing from our district’s history?
- What is the difference between ACE and the Faculty Senate?
- Who is eligible to be part of ACE?
- What will be our relationship to the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association (NEA)?
- Do conservative Educators support education Unions?
- Will we pay Union dues?
- Will my dues go to candidates I disagree with?
- How can I help us Unionize?
1. Why are Clovis Educators unionizing?
Clovis unified educators are unionizing to ensure a strong voice in decisions that impact our students, schools, and professions. By establishing the Association of Clovis Educators, we can negotiate a union contract that can ensure that Clovis educators have a meaningful say in decisions that impact our classrooms, improve pay and benefits, help cut down on turnover, address work/life balance and establish job security. Having a strong voice in decisions is critical when decisions are being made about the health and welfare of our students, colleagues and school communities. Together, we can ensure Clovis Unified prioritizes people over programs.
Clovis unified educators are unionizing to ensure a strong voice in decisions that impact our students, schools, and professions. By establishing the Association of Clovis Educators, we can negotiate a union contract that can ensure that Clovis educators have a meaningful say in decisions that impact our classrooms, improve pay and benefits, help cut down on turnover, address work/life balance and establish job security. Having a strong voice in decisions is critical when decisions are being made about the health and welfare of our students, colleagues and school communities. Together, we can ensure Clovis Unified prioritizes people over programs.
2. Are most California Educators Union?
Yes. Over 92% of educators at California traditional public schools are union. Thousands of educators at charter schools have also unionized in recent years. Approximately 30% of those schools are currently unionized.
Yes. Over 92% of educators at California traditional public schools are union. Thousands of educators at charter schools have also unionized in recent years. Approximately 30% of those schools are currently unionized.
3. What have other Public-School Educators accomplished by Unionizing?
By unionizing, educators have won big improvements in working conditions and a greater say in decisions at their schools. Some examples of these improvements include:
Ultimately, the decisions for what we want to accomplish at our schools will be up to us. We can learn from the accomplishments of other union educators, but what we seek to improve will be dependent on the goals and values our Clovis colleagues establish and how united we are in our union. Importantly, once we unionize, administration can no longer make changes to our teaching/working conditions without negotiating with us. That means we can protect what we currently love about working in Clovis and work together to make improvements in areas that need change.
By unionizing, educators have won big improvements in working conditions and a greater say in decisions at their schools. Some examples of these improvements include:
- Voice in Decisions that Impact our Classrooms: Many educators have won a greater role in decisions about health and safety, educational programs, class sizes, student support, professional development as well as other issues important to the education profession. Too often district administration or school boards seek to implement new policies that seem disconnected from on-the-ground learning needs. We have seen examples of this during this pandemic when bad decisions have the potential to harm the health of our students, colleagues, and communities.
- Greater Ability to Support Our Students: Union educators have won smaller class sizes, lower caseloads, and increases in prep time. Together such improvements make our work more sustainable over the long term, cut down on turnover, and help us better support our students.
- Improved Salary and Benefits: Public educators have won big increases in salaries, improvements in benefits, and expansions of stipends through unionizing. While few educators chose this profession to get rich, being able to afford raising a family or buying a house while teaching is hard to do if our salaries do not keep up with cost-of-living increases. Sadly, our salaries and benefits in Clovis have not kept up with comparable sized districts with similar student populations.
Ultimately, the decisions for what we want to accomplish at our schools will be up to us. We can learn from the accomplishments of other union educators, but what we seek to improve will be dependent on the goals and values our Clovis colleagues establish and how united we are in our union. Importantly, once we unionize, administration can no longer make changes to our teaching/working conditions without negotiating with us. That means we can protect what we currently love about working in Clovis and work together to make improvements in areas that need change.
4. What is the process for Unionizing?
California public school educators unionize by demonstrating that a majority of their colleagues support unionization by signing a union support petition. Hundreds of thousands of educators across California have unionized over the years in this democratic and legally protected fashion. This unionization process is overseen by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) which is a California state agency. The California state law that protects our rights to unionize is the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA).
Here in Clovis, once a strong majority of our eligible colleagues sign our union support petition, we will submit our petitions to PERB. Though the minimum support legally necessary to unionize is 50% +1 of eligible educators, our goal for ACE is to have stronger majority support. PERB will then verify whether majority support exists. Following PERB’s verification, our union will be certified and we will begin the process of our union contract negotiations. EERA Sections 3544a, 3544b describe this how this process works. Under no circumstances will administration see who signed our union support petitions.
Building a strong union requires more than just building majority support. It also requires having a dedicated leadership team of respected educators who guide the unionization process. Here in Clovis, many of our colleagues have stepped up to be part of our ACE organizing committee. This group is deciding strategy, growing participation, getting input from our colleagues about areas we want to improve, and letting Clovis educators know how they can best support this exciting effort. For a list of current ACE organizing committee members, please see our ACE Letter to Our Community.
Unfortunately, there have been some recent reports of a few administrators and other individuals suggesting that the unionization process requires 30% support to initiate an election. That is simply not accurate. Furthermore, some of these same people have implied that administration will verify the union support petition signatures. That is also categorically false.
California public school educators unionize by demonstrating that a majority of their colleagues support unionization by signing a union support petition. Hundreds of thousands of educators across California have unionized over the years in this democratic and legally protected fashion. This unionization process is overseen by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) which is a California state agency. The California state law that protects our rights to unionize is the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA).
Here in Clovis, once a strong majority of our eligible colleagues sign our union support petition, we will submit our petitions to PERB. Though the minimum support legally necessary to unionize is 50% +1 of eligible educators, our goal for ACE is to have stronger majority support. PERB will then verify whether majority support exists. Following PERB’s verification, our union will be certified and we will begin the process of our union contract negotiations. EERA Sections 3544a, 3544b describe this how this process works. Under no circumstances will administration see who signed our union support petitions.
Building a strong union requires more than just building majority support. It also requires having a dedicated leadership team of respected educators who guide the unionization process. Here in Clovis, many of our colleagues have stepped up to be part of our ACE organizing committee. This group is deciding strategy, growing participation, getting input from our colleagues about areas we want to improve, and letting Clovis educators know how they can best support this exciting effort. For a list of current ACE organizing committee members, please see our ACE Letter to Our Community.
Unfortunately, there have been some recent reports of a few administrators and other individuals suggesting that the unionization process requires 30% support to initiate an election. That is simply not accurate. Furthermore, some of these same people have implied that administration will verify the union support petition signatures. That is also categorically false.
5. How do we bargain our first Union Contract?
Once we have built strong majority support, submitted our union support petitions to PERB and been recognized as a union, administration is legally obligated to negotiate with our ACE negotiating team in good faith. This means administration can no longer make unilateral changes to working conditions without negotiating with us.
At this point in the process, Clovis educators will select a diverse group of educators from different schools, grade, subject, and professional areas to be our ACE union bargaining team. We will get input from all our colleagues through meetings and surveys. We will then use that information as we negotiate our first union contract.
Once we have built strong majority support, submitted our union support petitions to PERB and been recognized as a union, administration is legally obligated to negotiate with our ACE negotiating team in good faith. This means administration can no longer make unilateral changes to working conditions without negotiating with us.
At this point in the process, Clovis educators will select a diverse group of educators from different schools, grade, subject, and professional areas to be our ACE union bargaining team. We will get input from all our colleagues through meetings and surveys. We will then use that information as we negotiate our first union contract.
6. Will we lose current benefits, like Micare, by Unionizing?
No. The best way to protect what currently works in Clovis is to unionize. Once we are union, changes can’t be made without negotiating with us. If we want to protect—or even improve our benefits—we can prioritize that in negotiations. The reality is that, right now, administration can make unilateral decisions about changes. Once we are union Clovis educators will be a key part of the decision-making process.
No. The best way to protect what currently works in Clovis is to unionize. Once we are union, changes can’t be made without negotiating with us. If we want to protect—or even improve our benefits—we can prioritize that in negotiations. The reality is that, right now, administration can make unilateral decisions about changes. Once we are union Clovis educators will be a key part of the decision-making process.
7. Is it possible that improvements we win through Unionizing could harm students?
No. When we negotiate our union contract, we will look at Clovis finances in detail. All of them. We will make decisions about our goals and weigh the pros and cons. We have not talked with any Clovis educators who are interested in winning improvements that would harm our students in any way. Rather, we know that if educators are a part of the decision-making process, we will be able to improve the conditions in which our students learn.
No. When we negotiate our union contract, we will look at Clovis finances in detail. All of them. We will make decisions about our goals and weigh the pros and cons. We have not talked with any Clovis educators who are interested in winning improvements that would harm our students in any way. Rather, we know that if educators are a part of the decision-making process, we will be able to improve the conditions in which our students learn.
8. Does administration want us to Unionize?
Many district administrators would prefer that educators not unionize. Without a union, administration can make all decisions unilaterally. When educators unionize, educators must be part of that process. However, some school site administrators and principals understand that when educators unionize, we can help bring more resources to the classroom--which is a good thing.
Many district administrators would prefer that educators not unionize. Without a union, administration can make all decisions unilaterally. When educators unionize, educators must be part of that process. However, some school site administrators and principals understand that when educators unionize, we can help bring more resources to the classroom--which is a good thing.
9. Can we get in trouble for Unionizing?
It is not legal to discriminate against educators who are participating in unionizing their schools. Participating in or supporting ACE is legally protected activity. The Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA) is very clear about our rights. Most administrators understand this and know that administration will get in trouble if they violate the law.
In the unlikely event that a misguided administrator tries to violate the law and illegally discriminate against anyone for their union support or activity, we would be united in our support of our colleague and address the violation immediately.
It is not legal to discriminate against educators who are participating in unionizing their schools. Participating in or supporting ACE is legally protected activity. The Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA) is very clear about our rights. Most administrators understand this and know that administration will get in trouble if they violate the law.
In the unlikely event that a misguided administrator tries to violate the law and illegally discriminate against anyone for their union support or activity, we would be united in our support of our colleague and address the violation immediately.
10. I have a good relationship with my principal. We talk all the time. Will that change when we Unionize?
Unionizing will not harm good relationships with administrators at our school sites or at the district level. We all know that good communication and mutual support are critical ingredients for building teamwork and fixing problems. Because of that, a key best practice for resolving conflicts when you have a union contract is to first try to fix the issue locally informally, and at the site level.
While unionizing will not undermine our good relationships and direct communication with administration, it will help us limit the harm of bad administrative decisions. That is because once we are union, changes to our teaching conditions cannot be imposed unilaterally. Our experience and input must be considered. This engenders mutual respect, which in turn is the basis for good relationships.
A key principle many of us have embraced in Clovis is that kids are best supported when adults like each other. We are confident unionization will protect that where it currently exists and help it develop where it is needed.
Unionizing will not harm good relationships with administrators at our school sites or at the district level. We all know that good communication and mutual support are critical ingredients for building teamwork and fixing problems. Because of that, a key best practice for resolving conflicts when you have a union contract is to first try to fix the issue locally informally, and at the site level.
While unionizing will not undermine our good relationships and direct communication with administration, it will help us limit the harm of bad administrative decisions. That is because once we are union, changes to our teaching conditions cannot be imposed unilaterally. Our experience and input must be considered. This engenders mutual respect, which in turn is the basis for good relationships.
A key principle many of us have embraced in Clovis is that kids are best supported when adults like each other. We are confident unionization will protect that where it currently exists and help it develop where it is needed.
11. My family has deep roots in Clovis Unified, is unionizing departing from our district’s history?
Clovis educators are unionizing because we love our schools, our students, and our community. Many of the educators helping to build ACE went to Clovis schools, sent our kids to Clovis schools, and some even have parents who taught in our district. If anything, unionizing is an effort to return Clovis to the vision and trusting relationships that drew our families here years ago and that many of our families helped establish. Unionizing will help us ensure our colleagues have a real say in decisions that impact our classrooms so we can create the high standards that are necessary to achieve student success.
Clovis educators are unionizing because we love our schools, our students, and our community. Many of the educators helping to build ACE went to Clovis schools, sent our kids to Clovis schools, and some even have parents who taught in our district. If anything, unionizing is an effort to return Clovis to the vision and trusting relationships that drew our families here years ago and that many of our families helped establish. Unionizing will help us ensure our colleagues have a real say in decisions that impact our classrooms so we can create the high standards that are necessary to achieve student success.
12. How is the Association of Clovis Educators (ACE) different from the Faculty Senate?
Both ACE and the Faculty Senate involve dedicated Clovis educators who are committed to supporting our colleagues, students, and schools. However, there are key structural differences that enable ACE to be more effective at protecting what we love about Clovis and making the improvements that will ensure our educators and students thrive.
Real Say in Decisions vs. Advisory Only:
Once we establish ACE, we will be a real and effective part of the decision-making process in our District. Despite its best intentions, the Faculty Senate only plays an advisory role.
With a union, CUSD administration is legally obligated to meet and negotiate with us in good faith. This obligation is established in the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA), the California state law that governs labor relationships in public schools. This means district administration and the school board must work with us as equals when making decisions about important issues that impact our classrooms, professional responsibilities, and students. Specifically, the law ensures we have a real say in decisions about class size, caseloads, schedules, salary, benefits, our evaluation process, stipends, safety, prep times, academic freedom, student support services, leave policies, how district resources are best utilized, as well as many other issues important to our community.
The Faculty Senate is too often limited to just “communicating concerns.” District leadership and the CUSD Board are not required to consider Faculty Senate input and are within their rights to disregard their suggestions when making decisions. In fact, when educator concerns are brought forward by Executive Board members to District Office administration, a common response is, “We are not hearing that.”
Union Contract vs. District Policies
Once we unionize, we will negotiate a union contract with administration based on priorities identified by our colleagues. Once established, our union contract cannot be changed without the agreement of Clovis educators. Our contract will protect the conditions in which we educate and our students learn.
District policies are different. Without a union, they can be changed by administration at any time without our input. Even when district policies are established to address problems raised by educators or the Faculty Senate, they can be unilaterally changed. Sadly, we’ve witnessed this too often—most recently during the pandemic.
Democratic Decision Making
Decision making in our union will be transparent and rooted in democracy. ACE leadership will be elected by all union members. That means school site ACE leaders will be elected by their colleagues at their school sites and district wide ACE leaders by all members district wide. Importantly, our leadership and organization will also include the many important educational professions (such as psychologists and counselors among others), grade levels, and academic departments that help our district succeed.
In contrast, the Faculty Senate Executive Board is chosen by Faculty Senators only and many of our professional educator colleagues have historically not had sufficient representation in the Senate.
The bottom line is as ACE, Clovis educators will be more effective at protecting what we love about Clovis as well as making the changes our colleagues and students need to succeed. As part of this process, we look forward to working with Faculty Senators to best represent our colleagues, protect our students, and make Clovis more unified.
Both ACE and the Faculty Senate involve dedicated Clovis educators who are committed to supporting our colleagues, students, and schools. However, there are key structural differences that enable ACE to be more effective at protecting what we love about Clovis and making the improvements that will ensure our educators and students thrive.
Real Say in Decisions vs. Advisory Only:
Once we establish ACE, we will be a real and effective part of the decision-making process in our District. Despite its best intentions, the Faculty Senate only plays an advisory role.
With a union, CUSD administration is legally obligated to meet and negotiate with us in good faith. This obligation is established in the Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA), the California state law that governs labor relationships in public schools. This means district administration and the school board must work with us as equals when making decisions about important issues that impact our classrooms, professional responsibilities, and students. Specifically, the law ensures we have a real say in decisions about class size, caseloads, schedules, salary, benefits, our evaluation process, stipends, safety, prep times, academic freedom, student support services, leave policies, how district resources are best utilized, as well as many other issues important to our community.
The Faculty Senate is too often limited to just “communicating concerns.” District leadership and the CUSD Board are not required to consider Faculty Senate input and are within their rights to disregard their suggestions when making decisions. In fact, when educator concerns are brought forward by Executive Board members to District Office administration, a common response is, “We are not hearing that.”
Union Contract vs. District Policies
Once we unionize, we will negotiate a union contract with administration based on priorities identified by our colleagues. Once established, our union contract cannot be changed without the agreement of Clovis educators. Our contract will protect the conditions in which we educate and our students learn.
District policies are different. Without a union, they can be changed by administration at any time without our input. Even when district policies are established to address problems raised by educators or the Faculty Senate, they can be unilaterally changed. Sadly, we’ve witnessed this too often—most recently during the pandemic.
Democratic Decision Making
Decision making in our union will be transparent and rooted in democracy. ACE leadership will be elected by all union members. That means school site ACE leaders will be elected by their colleagues at their school sites and district wide ACE leaders by all members district wide. Importantly, our leadership and organization will also include the many important educational professions (such as psychologists and counselors among others), grade levels, and academic departments that help our district succeed.
In contrast, the Faculty Senate Executive Board is chosen by Faculty Senators only and many of our professional educator colleagues have historically not had sufficient representation in the Senate.
The bottom line is as ACE, Clovis educators will be more effective at protecting what we love about Clovis as well as making the changes our colleagues and students need to succeed. As part of this process, we look forward to working with Faculty Senators to best represent our colleagues, protect our students, and make Clovis more unified.
13. Who is eligible to be part of ACE?
Our union will consist of “certificated educators.” These include educators who require a credential or advanced degree for their work. Professional roles include classroom teachers, teachers on assignment, counselors, psychologists, education specialists, and other education professionals. It is important to note that staff who can unilaterally hire, fire, or discipline other educators are not legally allowed to be included in the union.
Our union will consist of “certificated educators.” These include educators who require a credential or advanced degree for their work. Professional roles include classroom teachers, teachers on assignment, counselors, psychologists, education specialists, and other education professionals. It is important to note that staff who can unilaterally hire, fire, or discipline other educators are not legally allowed to be included in the union.
14. What will be our relationship to the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association (NEA)?
ACE will be composed of educators from all the schools in our district and will be led by Clovis educators elected by our Clovis colleagues. We will democratically make decisions about our goals, mission, and day to day focus.
We will be affiliated with CTA (the largest statewide education union in California) and NEA (the largest national education union in the US). CTA and NEA are comprised of local unions across CA (like Fresno Teachers Association and Madera Unified Teachers Association) and state affiliates across the nation, respectively. They are led by educators who are elected and provide support for local unions, including staff and legal support, training, and a wide range of benefits. They also help support educators and students by advocating for school funding and supporting legislation that supports and strengthens our public schools.
Our goals in Clovis will be determined by Clovis educators and we will have input into the goals of CTA and NEA.
ACE will be composed of educators from all the schools in our district and will be led by Clovis educators elected by our Clovis colleagues. We will democratically make decisions about our goals, mission, and day to day focus.
We will be affiliated with CTA (the largest statewide education union in California) and NEA (the largest national education union in the US). CTA and NEA are comprised of local unions across CA (like Fresno Teachers Association and Madera Unified Teachers Association) and state affiliates across the nation, respectively. They are led by educators who are elected and provide support for local unions, including staff and legal support, training, and a wide range of benefits. They also help support educators and students by advocating for school funding and supporting legislation that supports and strengthens our public schools.
Our goals in Clovis will be determined by Clovis educators and we will have input into the goals of CTA and NEA.
15. Do conservative Educators support education Unions?
Absolutely. Many successful and dedicated union leaders identify as conservative. Educators from across the political spectrum believe resources should be focused on our classrooms, believe educators should be part of the decision-making process, believe in transparency and democracy. Education unions are not partisan organizations.
In fact, many leaders of education unions in the Central Valley identify as conservative. Likewise, many members of our ACE organizing committee are similarly inclined.
Absolutely. Many successful and dedicated union leaders identify as conservative. Educators from across the political spectrum believe resources should be focused on our classrooms, believe educators should be part of the decision-making process, believe in transparency and democracy. Education unions are not partisan organizations.
In fact, many leaders of education unions in the Central Valley identify as conservative. Likewise, many members of our ACE organizing committee are similarly inclined.
16. Will we pay Union dues?
Yes. Education union members pay dues to support their local, statewide, and national education unions. In fact, dues from existing local unions also help support non-union public-school educators when they decide to unionize. Union dues are typically between $80 to $100 a month. Educators who are first establishing a union—like we are in Clovis--do not start paying dues until we have become union members and voted to approve our first union contract. That way we can weigh the improvements we have made in our contract against the cost of our union dues. Additionally, every Clovis educator will make a decision about whether they want to be a member of ACE.
Yes. Education union members pay dues to support their local, statewide, and national education unions. In fact, dues from existing local unions also help support non-union public-school educators when they decide to unionize. Union dues are typically between $80 to $100 a month. Educators who are first establishing a union—like we are in Clovis--do not start paying dues until we have become union members and voted to approve our first union contract. That way we can weigh the improvements we have made in our contract against the cost of our union dues. Additionally, every Clovis educator will make a decision about whether they want to be a member of ACE.
17. Will my dues go to candidates I disagree with?
No. Union members can opt-out of having any of their dues going to political candidates. Learn more.
No. Union members can opt-out of having any of their dues going to political candidates. Learn more.
18. How can I help us Unionize?
The first step to support ACE is to sign our union support petition. Please contact us or reach out to one of the ACE organizing committee members to do so.
In addition to signing our union support petition, the most important role that one can play is to be part of our ACE organizing committee. Our union will work best by having committee members from every school, grade level, department, and profession. Please reach out if you want to help!
Finally, after we have established majority support for ACE, the best way Clovis educators can help is to provide their input about our union contract negotiation priorities and be involved in that process. Let us know!
The first step to support ACE is to sign our union support petition. Please contact us or reach out to one of the ACE organizing committee members to do so.
In addition to signing our union support petition, the most important role that one can play is to be part of our ACE organizing committee. Our union will work best by having committee members from every school, grade level, department, and profession. Please reach out if you want to help!
Finally, after we have established majority support for ACE, the best way Clovis educators can help is to provide their input about our union contract negotiation priorities and be involved in that process. Let us know!
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