The America’s Work Force Union Podcast welcomed David Goldberg, President of the California Teachers Association (CTA), representing more than 325,000 educators across the state. Goldberg discussed the funding challenges facing California public schools, the wave of teacher strikes for better resources and compensation and the critical need to extend Proposition 55, a tax measure that supports education and other public services.
Goldberg began by discussing the wave of teacher strikes and unrest sweeping districts, including West Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Diego. Educators are joining forces to demand fair pay, adequate healthcare and smaller class sizes, he said. In West Contra Costa, teachers and Teamsters successfully garnered fully paid healthcare and special education resources after a solidarity strike, setting a precedent for nearby districts. Goldberg explained that as unions coordinate contract expirations and demands statewide, they engage in collective action to improve working conditions and student outcomes.
Next, Goldberg addressed the ongoing debate between public and private education funding, noting that California does not have a voucher system. However, it has grappled with an increase in charter schools. Changes in state law now allow districts to reject charter applications that would harm existing public schools, a crucial safeguard as funding remains limited. Goldberg pointed out that in states where vouchers have been put to a public vote, they have been mainly rejected by working families who see them as another subsidy for the wealthy, reinforcing structural inequities.
The conversation also focused on Proposition 55, which adds a graduated tax on couples earning over $700,000 to bolster school and public service funding in California. Goldberg stressed that without renewing Prop 55 and making it permanent, California faces a significant funding shortfall by 2030, which would threaten jobs and resources for educators and students. The CTA is organizing to gather signatures and ensure the measure is placed on the ballot, emphasizing both democratic member engagement and the broader need for billionaires to pay their fair share. Goldberg made it clear that without action, working people will continue to bear the brunt of corporate tax loopholes and unstable funding, aggravating inequality and threatening the future of public education in California.
For more from Goldberg and the CTA, listen to the full episode above.
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