CTA President E. Toby Boyd joined Sacramento City educators and school staff once again at Serna Center school district headquarters Friday morning as the joint Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) and SEIU Local 1021 strike entered its eighth day. Despite the long week, spirits and turnout remained high as picketers lined 47^th Avenue, marched in unison to the rally stage and the SCTA bargaining team prepared to head back into district headquarters for the third day of a “bargain in.”

In the morning rally, there was increasing focus on the role of SCUSD school board members, as thanks was extended to educators, parents, community members and school staff who emailed and called board members and urged them to accept the neutral fact-finder’s compromise.

“We need the school board to feel the urgency we feel about our students, about our school sites, about staffing,” said SCTA Vice President Nikki Milevsky. “We need the kind of benefits, the kind of compensation, that will keep people coming to Sac City Unified. Why does this school board not understand how important it is for our students?”

“What do we do in November if school board members aren’t doing their jobs?” Milevsky asked.

“Vote them out! Vote them out!” shouted the crowd.

Speaking to a crowd of educators and school staff gathered in the parking lot, Boyd praised the work of the educators on the 100-member SCTA bargaining team.

“They are working so hard for you folks. Not only for the educators, but especially for the children that are out here. And I have to say, there are people out there saying, they’re not going to keep (this) up. They really don’t understand what’s going on. And I tell them, you just do not know the Sacramento City Teachers Association! They’re here for their students, for the community, for the betterment of education!”

As for elected school board members who aren’t doing their job, Boyd said: “It’s about time they step up or get out!”

Boyd added, “Together we are stronger. Together we are going to make this change. And Sacramento City will be the destination city it should be. Know that CTA is behind you 100 percent.”

SCTA President David Fisher has developed a short chant every day that rhymes with the strike day. Today, on Day 8, he urged: “Day 8, Make it Great! Day 8, Negotiate! Day 8, Don’t be late!” He noted the recent news that Amazon in Staten Island had voted to unionize: “You are part of a larger movement and a history of labor and community and workers coming together with families and children coming together to make life better for the average person. You should give it up for yourselves!”

Keep up with the Sac City educators strike!

Follow SCTA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news and information, and visit their website at www.sacteachers.org. A strike fund has also been set up to provide financial support for educators struggling to make ends meet while on the picket line. Please consider donating and sharing with your network.