On Wednesday, February 23, over 100 SEIU 1021 members at Hayward Unified School District held a rally to officially kick off contract negotiations and present a show of solidarity and strength in numbers to the HUSD school board.

The HUSD bargaining team is facing potentially contentious contract negotiations: Three of five HUSD board members back the closure of a beloved local school, Faith Ringgold School of Arts and Science (named for the legendary Bay Area artist and author) under the so-called “Fiscal Stability Plan.” The proposed plan includes this closure and other deep cuts that could have a devastating impact on students and the larger Hayward school community.

During the rally, members chanted and marched, and several speakers addressed the crowd, including bargaining team member and service kitchen operator Elena Davis, contract action team member and noon supervisor, Nichole Deras, SEIU 1021 VP of Organizing Jennifer Esteen, and chapter presidents Khadijah Abdulhaqq, YEP/PARA, and Justin Nauta, Maintenance and Operations. 

Participants expressed a shared set of priorities: securing livable wages, increasing staffing levels inside and outside the classroom, opposing cuts and school closures, and ending the practice of contracting out work.

“Caring for students should not require unsustainable personal sacrifice on our part or on our families’. We should all be able to grow and thrive in this community. We are committed to our students and to safe campuses. But we need HUSD to commit to us, too. And long-term commitment requires a livable wage,” said Deras.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for Thursday, March 5. If the HUSD board members didn’t know before, this rally made it clear that HUSD members are engaged and united in their support for the bargaining team as they advocate for livable wages and work to prevent cuts, school closures, and the misuse of public funds.