Activism

Teachers and Port of Oakland Workers Strike Friday Against School Closures and Billionaire Fisher’s Port Deal

The Oakland administration and school board have rushed to close schools ignoring its own policy and contract commitments to implement its commitments to confer with parents, teachers and the public about its proposals. Rather than “engage” with school communities, the school closures are being planned in concert with state leaders and their representatives, Alameda County Schools’ Supt. L.K. Monroe and the Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team (FCMAT).

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2022

Oakland Post

Teachers and community rally against budget cuts and school closures. Photo courtesy of CTA.

OUSD Supt. Johnson-Trammell says teacher strike is “illegal” but urges students to stay home on Friday

By Ken Epstein

Oakland educators and Port of Oakland longshore workers are holding simultaneous one-day strikes on Friday as a city-wide movement continues to grow in response to billionaires and gentrifiers backed by elected Democrats seeking to close as many as half of the city’s public schools and give away public funds and public land to build a $12-billion real estate deal and baseball stadium at the Port.

The strikes, as well as rallies and a march, were proposed by a new coalition, Schools and Labor Against Privatization (S.L.A.P.) composed of rank and file educators, members and leaders of ILWU Local and community members to oppose the privatization of public assets and the accelerated displacement of Oakland’s Black, Latino and working class residents.

Keith Brown, president of the Oakland Education Association (OEA), announced the educators’ work stoppage at a press conference on Tuesday. He said an overwhelming 75% of OEA voting members voted to authorize the one-day strike “because the Oakland Unified School District has unilaterally set aside its 2019 agreement with OEA to engage with families when considering school closures. OUSD has continued to ignore this important agreement despite the outcry from families to stop school closures.”

Trent Willis, past president International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 said the union moved its annual May Day stop-work meeting from Sunday to Friday so both unions could join together to protest privatization of public resources.

Willis said that longshore workers and school communities are facing the same opponents.

“We have in common the same billionaire, John Fisher, also a funder of KIPP and Rocketship charter schools, who is trying to privatize our schools and our ports,” he said. “Howard Terminal is key to our Port infrastructure and crucial as an economic engine of the Bay Area. It is a nexus between the port cargo area, ILWU training area, and ship turn around. It is critical to keeping trucks off of the streets of West Oakland and is next to a fully functioning industrial railroad.

“Already the (public) price tag for building the luxury condos and A’s stadium is $1.3 million, (and) they want to close down Oakland’s public schools? Not on our watch,” he said.

Willis added, “The ILWU is really excited about this coalition, Schools and Labor Against Privatization — in fact SLAP is urging similar committees against privatization around the country.”

OEA President Brown said that the strike is taking place because educators are taking “the next step to stop school closures that will displace thousands of students and disproportionately impact Black students in Oakland. Educators say that they (have) had enough. We have authorized a one-day ULB (Unfair Labor Practices) strike to let the district know that the refusal to honor agreements and to have meaningful conversations about how these school closures will impact communities of color is unacceptable.”

“This plan to close schools in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods will accelerate charter growth and gentrification, leading to more educational segregation and a financial drain. That already costs Oakland Public Schools $57 million annually,” he said.

“We call on our elected officials to provide students and schools with the support that they need — instead of closing our schools — and stop the disruption and dislocation of our students. Closing schools does not save money. Our students need more, not less.”

He said that on April 29, teachers are picketing at all OUSD school sites at 6:30 a.m. Other actions that are taking place during the day include a rally at Oscar Grant Plaza at Oakland City Hall and a march to the OUSD headquarters at 1000 Broadway.

OUSD has already closed about 20 schools since 2003. This year and next year, the district is planning to close about 12 more schools. Officials have said repeatedly that OUSD should ultimately shut down about half of its 80 public schools.

Joining in the strike are school workers in AFCME and SEIU 102. A representative of the Alameda Labor Council spoke at the OEA press conference, backing the unions.

OUSD Supt. Kyla Johnson Trammell denounced the strike as an “illegal” work stoppage and urged parents and guardians not to send their children to school on Friday.

“While school buildings will be open on Friday and all employees are still required to come to work, we do not believe that we’ll be able to cover the high number of expected staff absences with substitutes or reassigned central office staff,” she said. “Therefore, we are asking all families not to send their children to school on Friday. The absence will be excused, and no student will be adversely impacted by not attending school that day.”

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Activism

‘Donald Trump Is Not a God:’ Rep. Bennie Thompson Blasts Trump’s Call to Jail Him

“Donald Trump is not a god,” U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Congressman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said he not intimidated by President-elect Donald Trump, who, during an interview on “Meet the Press,” called for the congressman to be jailed for his role as chairman of the special congressional committee investigating Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, mob attack on the U.S. Capitol.

“Donald Trump is not a god,” Thompson told The Grio during a recent interview, reacting to Trump’s unsupported claims that the congressman, along with other committee members like vice chair and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, destroyed evidence throughout the investigation.

“He can’t prove it, nor has there been any other proof offered, which tells me that he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said the 76-year-old lawmaker, who maintained that he and the bipartisan Jan. 6 Select Committee – which referred Trump for criminal prosecution – were exercising their constitutional and legislative duties.

“When someone disagrees with you, that doesn’t make it illegal; that doesn’t even make it wrong,” Thompson said, “The greatness of this country is that everyone can have their own opinion about any subject, and so for an incoming president who disagrees with the work of Congress to say ‘because I disagree, I want them jailed,’ is absolutely unbelievable.”

When asked by The Grio if he is concerned about his physical safety amid continued public ridicule from Trump, whose supporters have already proven to be violent, Thompson said, “I think every member of Congress here has to have some degree of concern, because you just never know.”

This story is based on a report from The Grio.

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City of Oakland Celebrates Reopening of Main Library

“Libraries are such critical facilities for all Oaklanders, whether it’s children coming to story-time, adults reading the newspapers or borrowing the latest novels, and people engaging with a range of services and programs that the library hosts,” said Council President and District 2 Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas. “Such library services and programs are only possible when the facility’s electricity, heating, roof, and lighting are fixed and running efficiently. I’m proud to join this re-opening of our Main Public Library.”

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Left to Right- Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services, LaTonda Simmons, Assistant City Administrator, Nikki Bas, President Oakland City Council, Shen Thao, Mayor of Oakland, Carroll Fife, Oakland City Councilmember District 3, Harold Duffey, Assistant City Administrator, Sean Maher, Projects Coordinator. Photo by Kevin Hicks.

The branch had been closed since May for critical infrastructure upgrades

Special to the Post

The City of Oakland leadership and community partners gathered to celebrate the reopening of the Main Library after completion of critical infrastructure upgrades to enhance the library’s facilities and provide a better experience for patrons.

Renovations include new roof installation, skylight repair, critical electrical system upgrades, new boiler control system installation, auditorium heating and cooling system installation, and improvements to lighting, flooring and ceilings throughout the building.

“This is truly something to celebrate, the reopening of our wonderful Main Library! I congratulate the staff and our partners for this important project to make the Main Library a more comfortable place for everyone for years to come, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “Thank you to Oakland voters and the California State Library for making these crucial improvements possible.”

“Public libraries are a wonderful resource for our residents, offering a safe space for learning and being,” said District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife. “It is critical to improve and modernize our libraries so more members of our community can utilize and enjoy them. I’m excited that the necessary renovations to the Main Library have been completed successfully and thank everyone involved, particularly the City team, who helped secured the necessary grant funds for this work.”

“I am proud of the City staff and project partners who kept this important project on schedule and under budget,” said Assistant City Administrator G. Harold Duffey. “The library is an incredibly important resource for our community members, and this project is an investment into the library’s future.”

“December 2nd was a momentous occasion for Oakland Public Library as we proudly reopened the doors of the Main Library following extensive infrastructure repairs,” said Director of Library Services Jamie Turbak. “Closing the Main Library for six months was no easy decision, as it serves as the central hub for our library system and is truly the heart of Oakland. Yet, this renovation was essential, representing more than just physical upgrades—it reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, welcoming space for everyone.”

The City Administrator Jestin Johnson also attended the press conference and signalled his support for the completion of the record-setting completion of the renovations. Gay Plair Cobb, a newly appointed Library Commissioner said the Library represents the soul and brains of our community.

The Oakland Public Library secured funding for these crititcal repairs through a variety of sources. The California State Library’s Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program awarded the Main Branch $4.2 million. To comply with the grant terms, the City of Oakland provided matching funds through Measures KK, as approved by the Oakland City Council in October 2023.

The Main Library will host an Open House to celebrate the reopening on February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About the Oakland Public Library

The Oakland Public Library is a part of the City of Oakland in California and has been in existence since 1878. Locations include 16 neighborhood branches, a Main Library, a Second Start Adult Literacy Program, the Oakland Tool Lending Library, and the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). The Oakland Public Library empowers all people to explore, connect, and grow. Oaklandlibrary.org