Two Views of WCCUSD Meeting

A security gate at Alvarado School

Negotiators for WCCUSD and the United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) had radically different views of a meeting that took place Thursday (Dec. 4) at Alvarado School.

Superintendent Cheryl Cotton said in a statement:

“A Productive Discussion”

“I am pleased to share that the district and UTR negotiations teams met this afternoon, and we are making progress on our negotiations. I know our school community joins me in learning that it was a productive discussion, and we are making our way forward. We have more to discuss, and the district has requested to reconvene tomorrow. We will keep you posted.”

“No Meaningful Movement”

Describing the same meeting, UTR President Francisco Ortiz wrote to union members:

“Our solidarity forced the district back to the table, but their theatrics tonight say everything. They emailed us at 9:30 a.m. to bargain at 4 p.m., then met us with security, locked us out for 30 minutes, and held us in a room with no meaningful movement and no written proposals.”

“It’s insulting – not just to us, but to our students and their families.”

Perspective of Teachers Who Were Present

Teachers who were at Alvarado School Thursday afternoon to “make some noise” at the entry to the meeting place said they watched school district negotiators drive up and through the security gates, leaving UTR negotiators outside. WCCUSD’s team then went into the building and kept the union team waiting until they were ready – about half an hour.

The strike and picketing at all district schools continued Friday (Dec. 5).

No further updates from UTR or WCCUSD were available as of 4:30 p.m. Friday.