Santa Rosa Teachers Association Joins Forces with the North Bay Labor Council

For Immediate Release

March 7, 2019

Contact: Maddy Hirshfield, mhirshfield_nblc@att.net

Santa Rosa ~ At its regular meeting on March 5th, the Santa Rosa Teachers Association voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the North Bay Labor Council-AFL-CIO.

 The North Bay Labor Council (NBLC) is one of nearly 500 state and local labor councils acting as an arm of the AFL-CIO. NBLC represents over 70 thousand working people and some 70 union affiliates in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, and Marin Counties. Labor Councils are the heart of the labor movement and a powerful example of the strength that can be brought to bear when working people stand together.  

 SRTA represents close to a thousand teachers, counselors, school librarians, psychologists and nurses working for Santa Rosa City Schools, Sonoma County’s largest city. It is also affiliated with the California Teachers Association (CTA) and the National Education Association (NEA).

Currently, SRTA is locked in a fight with the Santa Rosa School Board over wages and benefits. Santa Rosa educators earn $15,000 less in total compensation than the average teacher in California. Teachers have been traditionally underfunded, many paying for classroom supplies out of their own pockets. There is no job more important than shaping the minds and characters of those who will be our future.

 Maddy Hirshfield, Political Director with the North Bay Labor Council said, “I’m completely excited about joining forces with SRTA. Teachers make up an important part of the backbone of our society. We simply must do right by them.”

 The North Bay Labor Council has the capability of mobilizing thousands from their Union ranks as well as community partners to “show up” and advocate for worker’s rights.

 Executive Director of the North Bay Labor Council, Jack Buckhorn said, “This is a great coming together of workers for all the right reasons. Santa Rosa teachers can rest assured the Labor Council has their backs.”

 Teachers throughout the country and state have been speaking out and demanding their right to be compensated fairly. That powerful movement is happening right here as well, in Sonoma County.

 Will Lyon, President of the Santa Rosa Teachers Association said, "I am thrilled SRTA is joining NBLC. We will fight together to make Santa Rosa a destination district for students and staff. The Red for Ed movement has taught us that when unions come together to fight for the fully funded public education that all students deserve, we win."

Workers joining forces together is a powerful tool for positive change.  

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