Security Guards In Compton Schools Staging Sickout With Teachers
COMPTON (CBSLA.com) — Several security guards working in the Compton Unified School District called in sick Monday, joining the teachers who have been staging sickouts as they demand better pay.
For the third time since last week, teachers, custodians, security guards and anyone governed by a union contract with the school district called in sick.
A high school teacher who declined to reveal her name or appear on camera said her union has not taken a strike vote and does not plan to. The sick days are the members' way of trying to make their point, she said.
CBS2/KCAL9's Dave Lopez called the union for comment, but his call was not returned.
Most of the teachers in the district were in the classrooms Monday, except for one school. But the district would not say which one.
At Compton High School on Monday, there was no organized teacher sickout. But there was a sickout among the security guards at most of the schools, according to Lopez.
Superintendent Darin Brawley's office released the following statement:
"Today several members of our classified staff called in sick at several schools necessitating temporary adjustments in staff assignments to ensure the District provides a full day of instruction. There were also several teachers that called in sick at one of our schools.
As superintendent I want to assure parents and the community that the District has taken every step to ensure all students are in class and that all the campuses are safe. For the most part, the classified staff that called in sick do not impact classroom instruction, and through temporary shuffling of staff the District's schools are in full operation.
It continues to be regrettable that employees who are dissatisfied with the progress of their negotiations with the District decide to express their frustration with actions that can hurt and impede our children's progress in the classroom."
The teachers and staff are fighting for higher wage and better health benefits after being offered a 2-percent pay increase. They are also unhappy that contract negotiations have stalled.
So far, there is no word on whether teachers and staff will vote to go on strike.