On December 5, South LA parents, community members, and residents descended at the Accelerated Schools (TAS) board meeting to present a list of urgent community demands. The board also made the callous decision to hire four, private armed guards to welcome the community for a regular, public board meeting. It is clear our demands are more relevant than ever. Let’s continue to stand together to hold charter schools like TAS accountable!

Last month we sent out a call to march on the Accelerated Schools in our efforts to bring justice to our beloved community of South LA. When we arrived, we were prepared to give our testimony for a second time after TAS canceled September’s meeting abruptly. The TAS board preferred to shut down the entire meeting instead of listening to the voices of our community.

On October 14, SEIU Local 99 filed unfair labor practices charges with the Public Employees Relations Board regarding the dismissal of Hilda Rodriguez-Guzman at the Accelerated Schools. Hilda served as Local 99's shop steward and Health Services Coordinator at TAS for over a decade. We are attending TAS next board meeting on October 24 at 10am to speak out in support of Hilda. Join us!

On August 29, dozens of South LA community members, TAS parents and alumni came together to demand that the Board of Trustees return Hilda to her position as Health Services Coordinator. Over ten community members spoke powerfully and directly to the Board about how Hilda has touched their lives and urged the board to reconsider its abrupt termination of Hilda.

Hilda Rodriguez-Guzman is a valued South LA community resident, mother, educator, and, up until July 2019, a dedicated Health Services Coordinator at The Accelerated Schools. After 10 years of serving our students and families, Hilda was suddenly and unfairly let go by TAS. We believe Hilda was let go in retaliation for her activism. We condemn retaliation against an employee for union activism. Parents, community, students, and staff are demanding TAS bring Hilda back.

On November 19, our bargaining committee met with TAS management and a mediator appointed by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to try and reach a resolution on our wages, sick days, and paid holidays. However, even with the mediator, TAS refused to make any serious movement to reach a fair agreement. That is why our bargaining committee unanimously decided to proceed to fact-finding, the last step in the negotiations process. Read more about what fact-finding means and what our next steps are.

On Friday, October 26, 2018, we led a candlelight vigil with dozens of parents, students, community members, and other members of Local 99 to make a call for justice at The Accelerated Schools (TAS). We’ve been in contract negotiations with TAS for over a year, but management refuses to work with us to reach a resolution. At the vigil, we urged TAS to live up to their mission by paying living wages and ensuring there is enough staff to provide students with the quality services and attention they need. We know we are not alone in our struggle. Our bargaining team will be going into a meeting with a mediator soon to try and reach a fair resolution.