Natomas Unified teachers continue their strike for better pay and health care amidst stalled negotiations. <\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014 Teachers in the Natomas Unified School District <\/a>remained on strike <\/a>Friday as negotiations with district leaders resumed but ended for the night without a deal.<\/p>\n Educators say they are continuing to fight for better pay, fully funded health care and more classroom resources. District leaders say the union\u2019s demands could put the district at financial risk.<\/p>\n Outside the Natomas Unified district office earlier in the day, teachers continued picketing for a fourth day.<\/p>\n Natomas Teachers Association <\/a>(NTA) leaders say the strike is about more than salary.<\/p>\n \u201cSending a message to the district with the expectations for them to get serious to offer us actually fully funded healthcare that will keep educators here in Natomas for our students,” said Nico Vaccaro, president of the Natomas Teachers Association.<\/p>\n Negotiations between the district and the union have been happening in some form for about a year.<\/p>\n Teachers are asking for salary increases of 4.5% and 4% over two years, fully covered Kaiser health insurance, smaller class sizes and more special education support.<\/p>\n Even as classrooms remain open with substitute teachers, some families are standing with educators on the picket line.<\/p>\n “It’s a primarily female dominated profession and I feel like it’s been undervalued for a really long time,” said Natomas Unified parent Kelsey Elwell-Taylor.<\/p>\n