“Rally for Respect” magnifies dispute over PSUSD contract negotiations

As Aretha Franklin’s 1967 classic “Respect” blared through a loud speaker, a crowd of hundreds of teachers rallied to ask the Palm Springs Unified School District to take a cue from the song’s catchy lyrics.

“I just want teachers to be respected as professionals,” said Marissa Davis, a science teacher from Palm Springs High School.

“It’s all about having respect for your teachers,” said Alexis Acker who also teaches at PSHS.

Despite the light mood of what the Palm Springs Teachers’ Association dubbed the “Rally for Respect,” the teachers’ demands are serious. They’ve been working without a contract, or a raise, since last July.

“By negotiating the superintendent’s salary in October, what the district is saying to us is we’re not as important as her contract negotiations,” said Mark Acker, presidents of the PSTA. He adds that the contracts should have been settled by now.

“I’d like this district to hold teachers in the same light they hold their positions,” said Toni Little, who teaches English at PSHS.

The district feels negotiations are moving in a positive direction and it’s confident a compromise will be reached soon.

“Everybody wants to feel like they’re earning a fair wage and hopefully in the next couple weeks we’ll have a tentative agreement and our people will understand we do respect them for the hard work they do,” said Mauricio Arellano, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

This isn’t the only dispute between a valley teachers’ union and its district. To the east, the Desert Sands Teachers Association remains at an impasse with DSUSD over salaries and benefits.

Meanwhile this week, the Coachella Valley Teachers Association received a five percent raise for all staff, in addition to other benefits.

“Hopefully it’s a wake up call for our school district. That they stand up and take notice that we’re serious about this,” Acker said.