San Francisco teachers are closer to a strike, as tensions with district administrators escalate.
In a vote that took place over the course of five hours Wednesday at Balboa High School, 99.3% of members of the United Educators of San Francisco approved a work stoppage. It is the first of two votes necessary to launch the first teacher strike in the San Francisco Unified School District in nearly half a century.
The vote served to take the union membership’s temperature on a strike and functions as a pressure point on district administrators as the sides strive to reach a new labor deal.
Over the last few years, unions have proved effective at having their most pressing demands granted by the district. In October, the union that represents principals won a $7,500 pay bump and a 2% raise for the next three years. In October 2023, the district granted credentialed teachers a $9,000 raise for that school year and a 5% pay bump for the next.
That contract expired in June but remains in place until a new two-year deal is reached. The district and the teachers union have been bargaining since March.
On the other side of the negotiating table is Superintendent Maria Su, whose appointment was generally opposed by UESF.
The union seeks to eliminate contract provisions (opens in new tab) proposed by the district, including increases to some class sizes and the elimination of sabbatical and AP support programs.
Teachers are also seeking a wage increase higher than the 2% the district has proposed, more insurance coverage (opens in new tab) for teachers with families, and higher staffing rates for special education. The union has suggested a 9% raise for certificated employees and a 14% raise for classified employees over the next two school years.
Union members also want stronger protections for substitute teachers, saying those workers aren’t getting sick pay under the new payroll system and don’t receive steady work during the school year.
In July, the district transitioned to a new suite of payroll, benefits, accounting, and employee management software systems called Frontline and Red Rover. Those systems replaced the EMPower software, which led to an overnight sit-in in 2022 at district headquarters because it failed to pay teachers accurately and on time.
“They have employees that they have to treat like employees and treat within the law,” UESF President Cassondra Curiel told The Standard last week. “They’re actively disrespecting them and not following … the law provisions that they’re required to as a result of their own mismanagement.”
Meanwhile, 3,000 teachers and staff from the West Contra Costa Unified School District began striking Thursday (opens in new tab), demanding a 5% wage increase.