UTLA T shirt raffle at 8/7 and 8/8 CEU days
Aug 5, 2025
UTLA SLPs
I know it was a tough summer for many - hope you found some joy and rest in the middle of it all.
A few updates as we get ready to return:
August 14th - First day of school UTLA Welcome Action
August 26th - Big Red T shirt day
MOU Initial Ax grievance for non-payment
UTLA T shirt raffle at 8/7 and 8/8 CEU days
Optional paid prep day for C basis on 8/12
August 14th - First day of school UTLA Welcome action:
This summer has been like no other for our students and families. Many have been scared to leave their homes due to the ICE raids. Some of our students have had family members detained. Some parents will feel afraid to walk their kids to school. Our students may not feel sure that they will be safe at school. So UTLA members are going to be visibly present in front of every school on August 14th. We will welcome everyone back with signs and updated Know Your Rights information. We will let kids and families know that we have their back and we are committed to keep schools and communities safe. Check in with your school site UTLA chapter chair for information on meeting times and locations.
August 26th Big Red T shirt day
Right now we are bargaining with the district on two separate things - a new contract and our healthcare benefits. Our contract bargaining started last February and includes raises and big proposals on LAS caseload/workload language. Healthcare bargaining happens separately with a committee of all eight district unions working together. Like they did in 2018 (remember when Nick Melvoin campaigned on our “too rich” benefits?!) and 2023 (when they tried to dismantle the healthcare benefits committee with the other unions), the district is proposing cuts. They want to limit their contributions to 2024 levels - and make members pay the difference. But they weren’t successful in 2018 or in 2023, and they won’t win this time. One of the easiest campaign actions we can take is wearing Red on Tuesdays - so our unity on this is visible to district leaders.
MOU Initial Ax grievance for non-payment
The district told us that we would be paid for these MOU initial assessments in July. But we weren’t. Not in August either. It’s bananas that this is the second consecutive year that we have to fight to be paid for the work we did. We will continue with the grievance process and share updates when we get them.
Also, this MOU was a two year temporary agreement for 23/24 and 24/25. It was the first time we were able to get assessment workload into the contract. We are fighting for permanent and improved language in the next contract.
UTLA T shirt raffle at 8/7 and 8/8 CEU days
Please join us at the beginning of lunch on both CEU days for a UTLA T shirt raffle! Perfect for August 26th action and every Tuesday until we win raises, new contract and maintain our health benefits. We can also stick around after the raffle if anyone wants to discuss bargaining or contract or other issues.
Optional paid prep day for C basis SLPs
Building on the wins from our 2023 strike, UTLA won two paid prep days per year for C basis folks for the next three years! Our first one this year is August 12th. Hopefully we will get an email with details on this soon - but it's likely to be similar to the one last June with two forms to submit with school site admin signatures.
Ok, fingers crossed for a much more precedented year!
In solidarity,
Kyoko, Leah, Sara and Sally
Hey, UTLA SLPS,
The last couple of years have been a rough ride for lots of reasons - but the district’s springtime surprises are not helping! We know that our program is understaffed, SLPs are overwhelmed and burning out, and our students are not receiving timely assessments and their complete services. The district’s solutions? Assignment adjustments that max everyone out to 55 and cut many necessary special assignment supports. Focus on EDSR. And now a change of benchmark (during IEP season and the highest assessment loads many of us have ever seen!) These solutions are not making a meaningful difference to student services and they are draining and demoralizing SLPs.
Guess who has better ideas? We do!
Caseload cap of 50
Weighted caseload for PK and AAC
Private and confidential workspace
Paid initial Ax over five - for everyone
Big raises and bilingual stipends
And lots more - like paid parental leave, district provided AAC apps, better access to PN days
UTLA SLPs have proposed reasonable solutions that will recruit and retain providers and result in better, more stable services and assessments for our students. We worked hard to get them into the bargaining package and now is our time to win this contract.
Winning all our great proposals - step one:
Sign the petition! If you have signed, share with your friends and make sure they signed. We hope all members sign to let our union know that these proposals are important to us and let the district know that we will fight for them.
Winning all our great proposals - step two:
May 17th Statewide Rally! This LA Times article does a great job describing UTLA’s bargaining package and juxtaposing our vision with the Trump/Musk agenda. There are a lot of great marches and rallies happening. The big one for us is May 17th. We will show up to push back on the dismantling of the Department of Education and the Medicaid cuts - and to lift up our bargaining package vision including a fully funded LAS program with reasonable caseload/workload. Please mark your calendars and invite your friends and family - we hope everyone can make it. We will share more information as we get closer to the date. (And if you need a fresh UTLA t shirt to march in, check out our online store)
Payments for MOU Initial Ax - as we shared in Tuesday’s announcements, we may have to grieve the district AGAIN to be paid for the initial assessments per MOU. Many providers hit their sixth initial assessment that meets criteria back in the fall and should have been paid by now. We will check in with members later in April - if no one has been paid in an off-cycle check, then we will begin to collect information for a grievance like we did last year.
Last thing before we jet off for spring break - last weekend at CTA state council, the special education committee learned of an unfortunate CDE policy change that impacts many SLPs in CA who work for districts that pro-rate preschool students (similar to our proposal!) This policy change doesn’t directly impact our district but you might hear about it or want to share your thoughts. CTA is asking for feedback.
Ok, wishing everyone a wonderful and restful spring break - filled with good surprises!
In unity,
Kyoko, Leah, Sara and Sally
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
Sally and I attended a UTLA meeting last night and wanted to share a couple of quick updates. UTLA has been pushing hard to get support for members impacted by the fires. We will keep pushing but here are two commitments we've secured so far:
1. MSND can be used for fire/wind related absences from last week Wednesday, 1/08/25.
2. MSND time is being expanded to seven days for members who were required to evacuate and ten days for members who have lost their homes.
We will go over more info at our chapter meeting on Friday, 1/17/25 at 12:00pm.
Also, Monica Roper wanted to share this message with our community:
Dear SLPs,
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and kindness during this difficult time. Your assistance and encouragement have meant the world to me and my husband Trevor.
Thank you for being there when we needed it most.
Warmest regards,
Monica G. Roper
Ok, hang in there and see you on Friday. Reach out if you need support.
In unity,
Kyoko, Leah, Sara and Sally
GO DODGERS!!! World Series champs!!
And in other thrilling news - the bargaining platform is officially out!
Earlier this year we collected and submitted your priorities and concerns, together with hundreds of other UTLA chapters. The bargaining team (with SPED itinerant chapter chairs including a UTLA SLP!) developed a proposed platform (after many discussions and drafts!) based on these priorities.
Please take a few minutes to check out the full platform and a summary. There is a lot to get excited about!
The next step in the bargaining process is a full membership vote to endorse the platform. The in person voting will take place at school sites from November 19-21.
In preparation for the vote, we've moved up our November chapter meeting to next Monday, November 4th at 5:30pm via zoom. Please join us to discuss and ask questions about the platform. Zoom link will go out via email before the meeting.
In unity,
Kyoko, Sara, Sally and Leah
04.04.2024.
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
Our next chapter meeting is next Monday, 4/08/24 at 5:30pm. The topic will be the new guidance on Kindergarten transition assessments.
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on the new guidance! Many members have concerns about workload. Based on responses to our google form:
7.5% report that their workload will be reasonable
17% report that they are unsure
75.5% report that their workload will be unreasonable
Other concerns mentioned include: inconsistent responses from APs, impact on treatment minutes and 70% benchmark letters and comp time and performance evaluations, impact on previously scheduled initial assessments, rescinding PALs assessment plans that were sent out per earlier guidance and general overwhelm.
UTLA members have contract protection for reasonable workload - even when the district makes sweeping changes with unreasonable timelines and inadequate staffing and resources. The district can not continue to expect us to work for no additional pay outside our contract hours. Please join us at Monday's meeting to talk through concrete ideas and solidarity to maintain a reasonable workload.
Zoom link will go out before the meeting via GroupMe and email.
One last thing from this week's UTLA email:
Self-nominations are now open to be Chapter Chair for the 2024-2025 school year.
Chapter Chairs are the critical contract enforcer, communicator, and lead organizer for your worksite. All union victories — including 2023 wins to lower class, increase staffing, save healthcare, and increase salary by 21% — are built from having strong Chapter Chairs who drive organizing at their sites.
Any UTLA member in good standing who has spent a majority of their work time within the chapter for at least two calendar months before submitting the self-nomination form is eligible to become Chapter Chair.
The deadline to self-nominate is April 26. Elections will be held at chapters where more than one member has self-nominated. If only one member from a chapter self-nominates, they will become the Chapter Chair upon completion of the Notice of Chapter Chair Election form, which will be emailed to them after April 26.
In solidarity,
Kyoko, Sally, Leah and Sara
Hi, UTLA SLPs!
We are excited to talk about assignments! So we are re-scheduling our March meeting chapter meetings a little earlier.
Please join us next week:
Thursday, March 7th 5:30-6:30
Friday, March 8th 12:00-12:30
As usual, zoom information will go out before the meeting via email and GroupMe.
Here is the new contract language on itinerant assignments:
Article IX-A Section 12.0
Uniform Staffing Procedure for Itinerant Assignments: Dependent on the administrative structure of the itinerant department, the District shall provide itinerant employees with a tentative list of available positions or programs/regions/Local Districts/administrative/supervisory areas prior to the distribution of the preference form, however the parties acknowledge that the tentative list is based on projections and therefore subject to change. Supervisors shall assign itinerant employees by an assignment method determined by each itinerant program in consultation with the UTLA Chapter Chair, in order of seniority considering other factors such as District/Program need, continuity of services, geography and the unique/area expertise of the service provider. The only exception shall occur when the supervisor reasonably determines with documentation that any specific assignment is not in the best interest of the education program. If the exception determination is disputed, the employee may appeal the initial assignment to the Department Head or designee for final resolution of the matter.* The District shall make every effort to notify the employees of assignment changes no less than one (1) week before the end of the school year with the understanding that such assignments are subject to change.
Leah sent an email earlier about the Friday Contract 101 meeting, but in case you missed it:
We are very excited to schedule our second Contract Language 101 Meeting on March 8, 2024 at 12:00pm. We will be discussing the new contract language regarding assignments including assignment preference forms, list of available school sites, and seniority rankings. Even though this is an extensive topic, we do have to keep the meeting to our contracted lunch. But as always, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to us.
Ok, talk soon!
In solidarity,
Kyoko, Sara, Leah and Sally
CONTRACT LANGUAGE 101 MEETINGS
Topic: Contract Language 101 Meetings
Time: Feb 16, 2024 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Fri, until Jun 7, 2024, 17 occurrence(s)
Feb 16, 2024 12:00 PM
Feb 23, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 1, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 8, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 15, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 22, 2024 12:00 PM
Mar 29, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 5, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 12, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 19, 2024 12:00 PM
Apr 26, 2024 12:00 PM
May 3, 2024 12:00 PM
May 10, 2024 12:00 PM
May 17, 2024 12:00 PM
May 24, 2024 12:00 PM
May 31, 2024 12:00 PM
Jun 7, 2024 12:00 PM
SEE YOUR EMAIL FOR THE ZOOM LINK!
If you haven't received the email or don't seem to be on our list REACH OUT TO US AT utlalaschapter@gmail.com
Hi, UTLA SLPs,
Please join us at our next chapter meeting on:
Monday 2/12/24 at 5:00pm via Zoom
email us for the link on utlalaschapter@gmail.com
We are jumping in to the new and very exciting contract language on assignments! Please bring your ideas and concerns about assignments.
Article IX-A Section 12.0
Uniform Staffing Procedure for Itinerant Assignments: Dependent on the administrative structure of the itinerant department, the District shall provide itinerant employees with a tentative list of available positions or programs/regions/Local Districts/administrative/supervisory areas prior to the distribution of the preference form, however the parties acknowledge that the tentative list is based on projections and therefore subject to change. Supervisors shall assign itinerant employees by an assignment method determined by each itinerant program in consultation with the UTLA Chapter Chair, in order of seniority considering other factors such as District/Program need, continuity of services, geography and the unique/area expertise of the service provider. The only exception shall occur when the supervisor reasonably determines with documentation that any specific assignment is not in the best interest of the education program. If the exception determination is disputed, the employee may appeal the initial assignment to the Department Head or designee for final resolution of the matter.* The District shall make every effort to notify the employees of assignment changes no less than one (1) week before the end of the school year with the understanding that such assignments are subject to change.
Zoom info will go out before the meeting via email and GroupMe.
See you soon!
In solidarity,
Kyoko