News Brief
Monday, February 9, 2026 — 8:33 am
San Francisco Unified School District teachers have taken to the picket lines on Monday morning for the first time in nearly 50 years after a weekend of failed contract negotiations.
Schools will be closed to the district’s nearly 50,000 students, although independent study packets are being delivered to libraries, community centers and school sites.
Negotiations ended Sunday with some agreements on non-monetary issues, but the two sides could not come to terms on family health care coverage and wages, according to United Educators of San Francisco, which represents 6,000 teachers, school counselors, nurses and paraeducators.
“We are facing an affordability crisis,” said UESF President Cassondra Curiel. “Family health care premiums of $1,500 per month are pushing excellent teachers and support staff out of our district. This week, we said enough is enough.”
The district and union have been at an impasse over contract negotiations since October. On Jan. 23, a fact-finding report from a state panel found the union’s request of a 9% wage increase and 100% paid health benefits would not be financially feasible for the district. The state panel suggested a 3% retroactive increase to July 1, 2025, and a 3% increase on July 1, 2026.
The district’s offer as of Sunday was a 2% raise every year for the next three years.
San Francisco Unified has been under state fiscal oversight since 2024, when it fell into negative certification, meaning it was at risk of failing to meet all of its financial obligations.
“We remain committed to negotiating with our labor partners,” said SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su in a statement posted on the district website Sunday. “We will continue to pursue a win-win proposal that provides fiscal certainty for the district by matching spending to available resources, while delivering compensation directly to educators. Our current proposal reflects the needs of all educators and keeps the district on a clear runway to exit state oversight. It is responsive to United Educators of San Francisco’s stated priorities, authorized by the Board of Education, and aligned with the findings of the recent neutral fact-finding report.”
Negotiations will continue at noon on Monday, and the teachers will hold a rally at San Francisco City Hall at 1 p.m.
Support for families, including information about independent study and food distribution sites are available on the district’s website.
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