Lab School Faculty Bargaining Updates

Bargaining Session number three is complete.  Next session is on Wednesday, August 17.  Our team will pass our remaining proposals, including compensation.  The university and Lab School administration will have all afternoon on the 17th to provide counter proposals.  Please read on for important details.

UC-AFT Demonstration Teachers have presented 8 proposals in total to the UCLA Lab School Administrative Bargaining Team. We have more proposals ready to present this upcoming week. We have not received a single proposal from the University. Our team and our members eagerly await counter proposals from the University.

Negotiations over the Lab School Demonstration Teacher MOU finally began today.  Please check out this update and check here for additional updates after each of our scheduled bargaining sessions: August 11, 15 and 17.

As we begin our negotiations, our priority as Demonstration Teachers is to ensure that the UCLA Lab School commu

UC-AFT and the University have agreed to full day bargaining dates on August 10, 11, 15 and 17 or 18.  Unfortunately, the University is insisting on risky in-person bargaining sessions and closed negotiations. COVID rates are still high and the beginning of the school year is weeks away. UC-AFT will not unnecessarily risk our members health and the beginning of the school year by meeting in person.  UC-AFT is committed to open, democratic and transparent bargaining processes.  We have negotiated all contracts in open sessions for the last four years.  Transparency in the process is a core value for UC-AFT and in the best interest of the Lab School community.  

UCLA Lab School has Bargaining Dates!

On June 21, Anthony Solana, Director of Labor Relations at UCLA, wrote to UC-AFT with an offer of bargaining dates in late July and August, if UC-AFT could establish a legal basis and obligation for the University to negotiate.  An offer of bargaining dates and negotiations that is couched in a refusal to bargain unless compelled to negotiate through legal argument, is nothing more than a refusal to negotiate. UC-AFT responded with the legal basis for a full scope of negotiations via the letter in this post.  We sincerely hope that UCLA will commence negotiations on a full side letter, in open (to the public) negotiations via Zoom on August 10.

The UCLA Lab School administration's lack of communication, respect and productive collaboration with teachers has caused significant damage to our learning community. Experienced educators are leaving our school and students will suffer from the loss of talented and dedicated teachers. The administration needs to meet with our union now to address these critical issues.

UC-AFT teaching faculty at the Lab School filed an unfair labor practice charge against the University on Friday, May 20 for a failure to bargain in good faith. The excerpt below is from the opening paragraph of the charge. The full charge is available here.

UCLA Lab School Faculty has an ongoing commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). As a laboratory school, teaching and learning at our school are responsive and dynamic. Demonstration Teachers are in a continual process of reflecting and revising our thinking, practice, and curriculum. This work ensures that children feel safe and affirmed, are empowered with critical thinking skills, and have tools to take informed social action.