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Tension is rising inside the West Contra Costa teachers union as members circulate a petition that seeks a vote to recall their leader.

Some United Teachers of Richmond members publicly have criticized union President Pixie Hayward Schickele and her handling of this month’s failed vote on a tentative agreement for a new contract with the school district. Now, they’re calling for change.

“This is the only way I feel I can get my message across,” said Lucy Giusto, a teacher at Hercules Middle-High School. “I have spoken to Pixie at different times, and other members have as well, and it seems that our wishes are put to the side.”

Many teachers feel that Hayward Schickele did not abide by UTR’s bylaws and follow protocols in certifying the contract vote, which initially appeared to approve the deal; a recount showed the teachers narrowly voted down the agreement. Some members also feel Hayward Schickele was hostile toward teachers after the vote, Giusto said, and that she could have been more transparent during bargaining with the district.

“It’s very important that we’re aware of the (vote) process. If the process is broken, then so are the results,” Giusto said.

Hayward Schickele maintains that she handled the vote properly and that the recall campaign has more to do with teachers’ general frustration than with her actions.

“The bylaws were followed. I don’t feel that the union mishandled the vote and the election,” Hayward

Schickele said. “Everybody is really frustrated. These are such difficult times. It saddens me a lot that our members are blaming our own union for the state’s financial problem.”

The teachers voted overwhelmingly in August to authorize a strike, though leadership and the district hammered out the tentative agreement before anyone walked off the job. But strike talk has increased after membership’s rejection of the agreement.

Giusto said she must collect 477 petition signatures — 20 percent of union members — to prompt a recall vote. In the days just before the Thanksgiving holiday, she had 125 signatures from three schools, with the petition circulating at more than 20 sites.

On Wednesday, Giusto said she was informed by UTR Vice President Terri Jackson that the petition must include the exact language for the proposed recall ballot; she said she would recirculate the petition for new signatures, with the intent of delivering them to UTR leaders late this week.

Despite the criticism, Hayward Schickele said she is trying to be realistic about what the district and teachers can agree to.

“(This group of teachers is) asking the union to act in an irresponsible manner, and the union is refusing to be irresponsible,” she said, referring to the possibility of a strike “when there is not money to sustain the things (some teachers are) asking for.”

But, Giusto said, what teachers are being asked to give up is “heartbreaking.”

“We don’t want to strike. But if we lose too many of the rights and compensation package that we’ve worked so hard for, we would have no choice because we would lose too much,” she said.

UTR members will meet today, when Giusto expects to collect more petition signatures. Another membership meeting is set for Dec. 14.

In the meantime, Hayward Schickele said UTR leaders will meet with teachers at individual schools to learn about their priorities and what kind of agreement can earn support.

District and union negotiators will meet for bargaining Dec. 10, the first time since teachers rejected the tentative agreement earlier this month. A state mediator is now overseeing the negotiations.

Reach Shelly Meron at 510-243-3578. Follow her at Twitter.com/shellymeron.