Today the Mt. Diablo School Psychologists Association (MDSPA) announced that on Tuesday 99% of their members voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike. MDSPA represents nearly 70 psychologists and behavioral health specialists in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. Co-Presidents Sylvia Venturino and Sara Cabezas said the near unanimous vote sends a clear message to the school district that it is on the wrong track.

“With a nearly unanimous vote, the Mt. Diablo School Psychologist Association general membership voted to authorize its board to declare a strike — should school district representatives continue to engage in unfair labor practices and unfaithful negotiations,” said MDSPA Co-President Sylvia Venturino.

“CFT will use all resources and weight to support the hard-working and critically needed school psychologists and behavioral health specialists of the Mt. Diablo School Psychologists Association, including walking the picket line with them” said CFT President Jeff Freitas. “We call on the leadership of the school district to immediately cease all illegal activity, and to negotiate in good faith.” 

School psychologists and behavioral health specialists are critical educators in the MDUSD, supporting students in the special education program and the educators and support staff who serve them. They have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the California Public Employee Relations Board, accusing the MDUSD of bargaining in bad faith. Despite reaching a contract settlement with district administrators in January 2020, a settlement MDUSD Board of Education oversaw, the Board rejected the settlement without any reasonable justification more than 1.5 years later on September 8th, 2021.  

Union leaders are hopeful that they will not be forced to walk the picket line on an unfair labor practice strike, but they are prepared to do so if necessary.

The Mount Diablo School Psychologists Association represents nearly 70 school psychologists and behavioral health specialists in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. They are affiliated with CFT: A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals, and the American Federation of Teachers.

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