Members of the Sheridan Educators Association began a strike across Sheridan School District in the south Denver metro area on Apr. 1, seeking to have their expired contract reinstated and full union recognition. The decision to strike followed a vote in early March where 98% of SEA members supported the action, after working without a contract since last August.
The educators are calling for district leadership to reinstate their collective bargaining agreement, recognize the entire union as a bargaining unit, and reverse certain district policies that they say are harmful. They argue these steps are necessary to provide stability for students over the long term.
According to SEA, negotiations with Sheridan School District have stalled for months. The association says there has been a pattern of bad faith actions and retaliation against educators, including refusal by the district to reinstate an agreement that had been in place for over fifty years. SEA represents more than 160 teachers and classified staff within the district.
“Our union is all of us, and we’re showing that power now,” said Kate Biester, president of Sheridan Educator Association and social studies teacher. “Every one of us that works in this district, classified and certified staff, works to keep our schools running and kids taken care of. Not one of us wanted to get to this point, but the district’s actions have given us no other choice. We will not quit until the district meets our demands; we teach our students to stand up to bullies and now is the time to show them what that means.”
Kevin Vick, president of Colorado Education Association (CEA) and a high school social studies teacher with 24 years’ experience said: “Sheridan educators are continually being asked by their district to do more and more with less and less. Enough is enough. CEA is proud to stand in solidarity with Sheridan as they go on strike for fair treatment for all educators: full recognition, a reinstated contract, and an end to the anti-union retaliation from the district.”
