PSRPs: One job should be enough

In a packed room of well over 100 paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, AFT PSRP division members swapped stories that usually boiled down to their challenges over pay, respect and working conditions. At the core of it all: One job should pay enough to sustain a family.

"In California, we don't call it a livable wage," said Carl Williams, co-chair of the PSRP program and policy council and president of the Lawndale (Calif.) Federation of Classified Employees. "We call it an enjoyable wage."

On pay, paraprofessionals from the United Federation of Teachers in New York City waited excitedly to see if their "Respect Check" was on the way-a $10,000 bonus that the city council passed today. PPC co-Chair Sarah Wofford, president of the Oregon School Employees Association, said the UFT's fight has inspired PSRPs across the country to say: "If they can do it, we can do it."

On politics, the PSRPs learned of opportunities they have to take part in shaping this fall's midterm elections-incredibly important because the Trump administration is proposing severe cuts for the two largest federal education programs: Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

To counter these attacks, the AFT is launching political campaigns that will build volunteer capacity. PSRPs will be encouraged to knock on some doors on behalf of locally endorsed school board candidates and to volunteer in battleground states. If you can't volunteer in person, there will be opportunities to phone bank, text and write postcards. Find out more at aftvotes.org.

The PSRPs reviewed their victories state by state-from mandatory minimum healthcare contributions to summer unemployment insurance-followed by a discussion ranging from accessible playgrounds to legislation the AFT has endorsed for a national working-class tax cut.

For their closing panel, PSRPs welcomed AFT historian Dan Golodner; Teana "Tea" Tillery, vice president of paraeducators for the United Educators of San Francisco; and Jeff Grider, who leads the classified staff union at Portland (Ore.) Community College.

Golodner asked the panel members about values. Tillery said that at the heart of PSRPs' work is dignity and equity, given that they are the least recognized and lowest-paid education workers. Grider spoke of the value of solidarity, with PCC classified staff and workers from another union striking this spring and taking part in other actions like "No Kings," building a larger community.

The PSRPs wrapped up their meeting by making small signs they could use as fans. Two of them: "We deserve to live a life and not a fight" and "One job should be enough."

"We're no strangers to struggle," Williams said, and sent off the PSRPs with this message: "Make sure that our voices are heard, our stories are heard and our faces are seen."

[Annette Licitra/Photo credit: Pam Wolfe]