1. Activities
  2. A Message from the PFC and Thornhill OEA Members about the May 1 Strike
A Message from the PFC and Thornhill OEA Members about the May 1 Strike
Tue, Apr 29 8:09pm

Hi Thornhill,

We understand that some families may have questions and concerns about the one-day strike on Thursday, May 1, and that for some, this may be the first time navigating a situation like this. With so much information coming from both OUSD and Oakland Education Association (OEA), it can feel overwhelming and confusing.

Please note, the Thornhill PFC remains neutral regarding the positions of OEA and OUSD. Our focus is rooted in supporting our students, our teachers, and the entire Thornhill community, no matter what is going on around us.

While there are many spaces and platforms where individuals can share their views and engage in conversations about the strike, the PFC’s role is to help maintain a respectful environment for all members of our school community, regardless of one’s stance.

Thornhill will remain open on Thursday, May 1 for families who need to drop off their children, with Principal Daubenspeck and other non-union staff ensuring students are safely cared for. 

Please continue to monitor ParentSquare for any negotiation updates, as the PFC will not be sharing further strike-related updates directly.

In the spirit of open and supportive communication, our Thornhill teachers have asked us to share the following open letter with you, which you’ll find below.

If you have any questions, please reach out and we’ll do our best to support you.

In partnership,

Catrina Vrankovich & Becky Gonzales

PFC co-Presidents

president@thornhillschool.org

----

Dear Thornhill Families,

As members of the union, we will honor any Unfair Labor Practice Strike. The Labor Board has confirmed unfair practice on the part of OUSD. 

As staff, we may not have chosen this form of action, but we know that this is one of the most powerful tools available to our membership to advocate for the needs of our schools, students, and selves. We are hopeful that tomorrow’s negotiations will have a favorable result.

If people want to know more about why this one-day protest strike has been called, we will be outside school on May 1. We support families in making whatever decision is best for them on that day. 

Sincerely,

Thornhill OEA Members