The Power of We (Blog Action Day 2012)

When I was thinking of what "the Power of We" means to me, I instantly thought of my union, California School Employees Association, AFL-CIO. We represent the non-teacher, non-administrator positions in California's schools: secretaries, custodians, paraeducators, food service workers, bus drivers, etc.

CSEA has accomplished a lot in it 86 year history. CSEA was originally formed to help give employees a secure retirement. Classified employees won the right to participate in the program now known as CalPERS. We are still fighting to make sure that the meager retirement this program gives our members is still strong.

"Before CSEA began to work on legislation, classified workers had nothing, Now, classified leaders from other states are astonished because we are the only state in the country that has an entire section of laws for our protection...and these laws exist because of the hard work by CSEA and its members. Truly, CSEA is the most important thing that ever happened to classified workers--it changed our lives, gave us hope and a future" -- Bill Parker, Retired CSEA Legislative Committee Chairperson and committee member for 26 years.

Some highlights of working as one group for the betterment of our members:
1959: CSEA sponsors "The Classified Bill of Rights." Described by one historian as "the most spectacular breakthrough in legislative achievements by any single organization", it is divided into different bills guaranteeing classified workers' rights to fair wages, benefits, job classifications,leaves, a merit system, and much more.

1968: "Stop when red Lights Flash" signs must be placed on school buses.

1975: Workers are guaranteed collective bargaining rights.

2002: SB 1419 the criteria for contracting-out classified work and contracting-out state services must be similar. 

Links:
CSEA: http://www.csea.com
CalPERS: http://calpers.ca.gov