Report on the Decisions of the 10/24 Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education

This report is a summary of the day long activities and decision making among the faculty, staff and students representing K-12, California Community Colleges and the University of California systems. There appeared to be nearly 1000 folks gathered for the event at Pauley Ballroom on the UC Berkeley campus. (Also, a shout-out is in order to the organizations donating coffee and pastries in the a.m and free lunch in the p.m.) The day was a combination of chaos, high spirits and sobering reality, but consensus was arrived at and the Report on the Decisions of the 10/24 Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education summarizes the result. One of the best things about the event is that we now have a date to organize around: March 4, 2010. (Please note that I have made minor modifications in the interest of clarity to the original text.)

B.D.

Report on the Decisions of the 10/24 Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education

• Introduction
  • Thanks to all of you, the Conference was a tremendous success! While we recognize that we stand in the beginning stages of our struggle and acknowledge that we have much work ahead of us, we are certain that the Conference on October 24, 2009 was a pivotal event in the building of a statewide movement to defend public education. More than 800 students, workers, and teachers from over 100 different schools, unions, and organizations from all across California and from all sectors of public education – Pre K-12, Adult Education, CC, CSU and UC – participated, discussed, debated, and democratically voted on how to advance the struggle to defend and transform public education in California.
    …[T]he principal decisions of the Conference [are listed below]. Please share them with your member groups, General Assemblies and all those concerned with defending public education! Spread them far and wide!
• Solidarity With November Actions
  • The Conference endorsed the UC and CSU strike and mobilization on Nov. 17th– 20th and decided to call for statewide solidarity actions on these days. On these dates, the University of California Regents will meet in UCLA to impose a 32% student fee increase and the California State University Board of Trustees will meet in Long Beach to begin the development of a list of programs to be eliminated in anticipation of major budget cuts next year. Throughout the state and across the different levels of education, we must act together against all attacks on public education. The conference calls for all activists and organizations to organize solidarity actions on Nov. 17th – 20th.
  • These November actions — and other similar upcoming actions — are crucial building blocks towards the united Strike and Day of Action on March 4th.
• March 4 Strike and Day of Action To Defend Public Education
  • After much passionate discussion and debate, the conference democratically voted, as its principal decision, to call for a “Strike and Day of Action that is inclusive of all different tactics, including: walkouts, rallies, march to Sacramento, teach ins, occupations, and all other forms of protests chosen by schools and organization. It starts on this day ______ and its up to each school and organization if and how long to continue it.”
    After passing this resolution, different dates were discussed and March 4 was overwhelmingly chosen as the date for the united Spring action.
  • The call for the March 4 Strike and Day of Action To Defend Public Education is copied below and attached to the original email. Please send this out widely and get organizations and activists to endorse it!
    • CALL:
      March 4 Strike and Day of Action To Defend Public Education
      On October 24, 2009 more than 800 students, workers, and teachers converged at UC Berkeley at the Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education. This massive meeting brought together representatives from over 100 different schools, unions, and organizations from all across California and from all sectors of public education – Pre K-12, Adult Education, CC, CSU and UC – to “decide on a statewide action plan capable of winning this struggle, which will define the future of public education in this state, particularly for the working class and communities of color.”
      After hours of open collective discussion, the conference democratically voted, as its principal decision, to call for a statewide Strike and Day of Action on March 4, 2010. The conference decided that all schools, unions and organizations are free to choose their specific demands and tactics – such as strikes, walkouts, march to Sacramento, rallies, occupations, sit-ins, teach-ins, etc. –  for March 4, as well as the duration of such actions.
      We refuse to let those in power continue to pit us against each other. If we unite, we have the power to shut down business-as-usual and to force those in power to grant our demands. Building a powerful movement to defend public education will, in turn, advance the struggle in defense of all public-sector workers and services. We call on all students, workers, teachers, parents, and their organizations across the state to endorse this call and massively mobilize and organize for the Strike and Day of Action on March 4.

       

      Let’s make this an historic turning point in the struggle against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes, and educational segregation in California.
      To endorse this call and to receive more information, please contact march4strikeanddayofaction@gmail.com and consult www.savecapubliceducation.org

  • Spring Statewide Conference
    • The next Statewide Conference was called for Spring 2010 and will be held in Southern California. We hope that the upcoming Conference can move forward in democratically deciding on unifying demands, as well as build for the statewide actions on March 4. The exact location and date are TBA and will be sent out ASAP!
  • Demands
    • Throughout the day of the October 24 Conference, individuals and organizations had the opportunity to raise the demands they felt were most crucial to this struggle. All written and spoken demands are compiled in the document “Demands 10/24/2009” attached to the original email. We hope that the upcoming Spring Conference can move forward in democratically deciding on unifying demands for the statewide actions on March 4!
  • Coordinating Committee
    • A volunteer coordinating committee met after the conference. To join the Coordinating Committee listserve —  oct24coord@lists.berkeley.edu — please contact oct24list@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the email list.
      We encourage other individuals and activists to join the coordinating committee. It is open to all!
      The next in-person coordinating committee meetings will be on November 7th at 1pm. NorCal Location: San Jose State; SoCal Location: TBA by participants from the region. Details will be sent out ASAP!