<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0JaozQ_1Gymw8ev00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0JaozQ_1Gymw8ev00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Educator and Citrus Glen Elementary and vice president of VUEA Kara Miller said, “We are here because we’re fighting for equity and we are fighting for a fair contract. We know what the district can afford and that will be revealed in fact finding which we are really looking forward to.” Photo by: Marlie West</figcaption></figure>On Oct. 13 at 4 p.m., the two Ventura Unified School District unions known as Ventura Unified Education Association and Ventura Education Support Professionals Association rallied and hosted a strike authorization vote in front of the district office located at 255 W Stanley Avenue before the 6 p.m. board meeting.“If a strike occurs, it would be an unprecedented situation for our District. That is why we have been proactively developing contingency plans to keep schools open, maintain student safety and continue providing educational opportunities and essential services. Our hope remains that we can reach agreements with both unions and avoid a strike altogether,” said district labor relations spokesperson, Heather McGowan. Voting closed and the results were released Oct 16. 96 percent of VUEA and 97 percent of VESPA voted to strike should no agreement be reached during fact finding.President of VESPA Carol Peek said, “If we don’t reach an agreement in fact finding, [this vote] authorizes leadership to say it’s time for us to strike.” Miller said, “[Before a strike,] the community will be notified at least 48 hours prior and we will have a work stoppage and we will wait for the district to come back with a fair offer.”VESPA began negotiations with the district Oct. 23, 2025. Negotiations between VUEA and the district began Nov. 13, 2025. Negotiations addressed topics such as employee salaries, health benefits and working conditions. “The most important part is that we do not want a cap on our benefits. We want to be able to have a fair contract to where benefits will be attainable for both teachers and classified staff,” said paraeducator and VESPA vice president Robert Ybarra.VUEA president Sara McLaughlin said, “VUEA is particularly concerned that the district’s current proposal could leave many employees with less take-home pay once increased health care costs are factored in. According to the district’s financial information, VUSD has reserves exceeding 11% (California Department of Education requires a 3% reserve) and have received over $20 million dollars in additional funding. Meanwhile the district’s proposal would shift a greater share of health care costs onto employees. We believe there is a more equitable way to address compensation and health benefits.”Because no agreement was reached over the course of the negotiation sessions, the district and the unions moved to the impasse mediation phase May 7. In an impasse, neutral mediators are appointed by the California Public Employment Relations Board to assist with the negotiations.According to the district website, “The District and labor unions all signed confidentiality agreements that state we cannot share any proposals that may have been made by the parties during that timeframe; therefore, we cannot share any as we have in the past.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0PekoX_1Gymw8ev00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0PekoX_1Gymw8ev00" width="2001" height="1334" ><figcaption>McLaughlin said, “Each school has at least one site representative who helped facilitate the voting process and ensure members could participate. The evening before the vote, VUEA and VESPA held joint training to make sure site representatives understood the procedures and could administer the vote consistently and fairly.” Photo by: Ann Lam</figcaption></figure>After going through impasse with no agreement, the district and the two unions entered the third stage of negotiations known as fact finding Sept. 18. In this process, an appointed three-person panel reviews the unresolved issues and makes recommendations that are nonbinding. Within 10 days of appointing the panel, a fact finding hearing is held. McLaughlin said, “For educators, this is not a decision we take lightly. We chose careers in public education because we care about students and want them to succeed. A strike would disrupt the normal school day, and we recognize that this would affect students and families. That is one reason we have worked so hard to reach an agreement without a strike. At the same time, we must be able to support ourselves and our families and ensure that our schools can attract and retain qualified professionals. Our hope is that a strong show of member support will encourage the district to reach a fair agreement before a strike becomes necessary.”“I feel like the strike is a powerful move that I would totally support if it came down to it, but it would be amazing if a compromise could be reached because a strike could potentially really hurt my education which is worrying, especially considering it’s my senior year and I’m in the middle of college applications and everything,” said Ella Hughes ‘27.The fact finding hearing took place Oct. 21 and resulted in no agreement. A fact finding report with the panel’s recommendations is expected to be sent to the district and the unions within 20 days after the hearing. The report is required to be made public no more than 10 days after the negotiating parties received it.Once the report is public, the district can proceed to unilateral implementation, the execution of unilateral change. According to a 2017 article from the American Bar Association, unilateral changes refer to adoptions of new terms or modifications to the current terms. “It’s very difficult because we have a lot of hard-working people in this district. And to get a fair contract, livable wage here in this great city of Ventura, it’s great when [the district] does provide and help for staff. That’s why we’re here. We’re here not just for us, but for our students,” said Ybarra.Additionally, the union is able to strike upon publicization of the report. If a strike does occur, VUSD intends to keep its schools open and continue regularly scheduled classes at the middle and high school levels. There will also be options for short-term independent study available to students.“Athletics and extracurricular activities would continue when appropriate staffing, supervision and transportation can be provided. Some activities or competitions might need to be adjusted, rescheduled or canceled depending on staffing and operational conditions,” said McGowan.“I completely support all of my teachers in the strike. It’s only one year of my education versus their entire jobs and incomes that support their lives and families. My teachers deserve fair treatment and I will always support them in chasing that,” said Hughes.</div></body>

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On Oct. 13 at 4 p.m., the two Ventura Unified School District unions known as Ventura Unified Education Association and Ventura Education Support Professionals Association rallied and hosted a strike authorization vote in front of the district office located at 255 W Stanley Avenue before the 6 p.m. board meeting.

District unions authorize a strike

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On Oct. 13 at 4 p.m., the two Ventura Unified School District unions known as Ventura Unified Education Association and Ventura Education Support Professio

District unions authorize a strike

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