Union rallies against four-day plan
By Marcus Clem
One of St. Joseph’s largest labor unions intervened in education policy in a way not seen before when they urged the St. Joseph Board of Education to vote down a four-day schools plan.
The board ultimately did so, 4-3, on Monday night. Labor attorney Monica Vargas-Huertas said organizers became aware of the proposed change after concerned parents who belong to the union contacted Local No. 2 leaders in Kansas, who then read news stories to learn more. Confusion and worry permeated the ranks because of what some perceived to be the rapid development of the district’s plans, and the language barrier to understanding them.
According to Vargas-Huertas, at least 65% of the St. Joseph union members are immigrants, mostly from Latin America. Between Kansas and Missouri, Local No. 2 represents about 15,000 people working for food and consumer goods industrial outlets, several of which are found in St. Joseph.
“Take into account the voice of these working parents and the safety for the children,” said Vargas-Huertas, political and community outreach director for Local No. 2. “They are concerned about that. Any decision that is made should be also in consultation of the best interests of the people who are sustaining the economy in St. Joseph.”
It is not clear how many of them are UFCW members, but several Spanish-speaking parents spoke against the measure on Monday, assisted by an interpreter. Some of the speakers came at the invitation of the National Parents Union, which is not a labor organization, but a nonprofit based in Malden, Massachusetts, which advocates for policy changes it said are favorable to parents.
“I stand before you to ask you to not change the school schedule from five days to four days, because my son and many others would be affected too much,” said Marly Alvarado, a Skaith Elementary mother, in Spanish. “My son’s dad and I have supported my son’s learning as much as possible … I feel that he does not have a problem with language, it’s just that he needs more time dedicated to him.”
To help its members understand the situation, the UFCW distributed flyers in English and Spanish, and conducted a survey, which obtained hundreds of responses. Some 84% of these indicated they rejected the four-day plan, prompting the union to declare its opposition to the board via a letter.
Vargas-Huertas said the union does not intend to actively involve itself in education policy going forward, preferring to put its trust in the district to make decisions for schools. However, it will continue efforts to get its immigrant members naturalized as U.S. citizens, as many of them currently cannot vote. Naturalization takes several years, and it is recognized that many eligible immigrants may be reluctant to do it unless they have guidance. Vargas-Huertas conducted a clinic on this subject in November, she said, with help from the St. Joseph Public Library, and looks forward to future such events.
