Catherwood LibraryILR School

Over 90% of the teachers of Sweetwater School District, in Chula Vista California, have approved going on strike, even though that may be illegal. The union President, Roberto Rodriguez, says that taking a strike vote is legal, although the Public Employees Relations Board has stated otherwise for actual strikes. The impasse in negotiations is on the topic of health plan contributions, and the union says that the district is engaging in unfair labor practices. The union claims that the district has reneged multiple times since negotiations began almost a year ago and have taken the issue to the Public Employees Relations Board. After three sessions with a state-appointed mediator and working under a contract that expired in July of 2013, the union says it is no closer to an agreement so long as the district changes the deal every couple of months as time goes on.