SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of public schoolteachers in San Francisco went on strike Monday, marking the first public schoolteacher strike in the city in nearly 50 years.
The strike follows a failed agreement between teachers and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) over higher wages, health benefits, and resources for special needs students. As a result, all 120 schools in the district were closed, and the SFUSD offered independent study options for around 50,000 students.
We are facing an affordability crisis, said Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco, in a statement prior to the strike. Family healthcare premiums of $1,500 per month are pushing excellent teachers and support staff out of our district. This week, we said enough is enough.
Union teachers had joined the picket line after last-ditch negotiations over the weekend did not yield a successful contract. Mayor Daniel Lurie and Democratic U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi urged both sides to continue talks, prioritizing student well-being over school closures.
Union leaders aimed to hold a press conference Monday morning while an afternoon rally was planned at San Francisco City Hall. Negotiations were set to resume midday Monday.
The union and the district have engaged in negotiations for nearly a year, with teachers advocating for fully funded family health care, salary raises, and the filling of vacant positions affecting special education services.
The teachers are requesting a 9% wage increase over two years, which would add $92 million annually to the district's budget. They propose that these funds could come from reserve resources to be redirected to classrooms. However, SFUSD officials, facing a $100 million deficit and under state oversight for ongoing financial issues, rejected this proposal, countering with a 6% raise spread over three years and offering bonuses contingent on a potential surplus by the 2027-28 school year.
A recent report from a neutral fact-finding panel suggested a compromise of a 6% increase over two years but largely supported the district's claims of financial constraints. Union representatives pointed out that teachers in San Francisco contribute some of the lowest amounts towards their healthcare in the Bay Area, prompting many to leave the district.
Superintendent Maria Su highlighted two options for health care coverage: the district covering 75% of family health care costs through Kaiser or providing an annual allowance of $24,000 for teachers to select their health plans.
Mayor Lurie, who played a role in resolving previous strikes, stated that city agencies are working in coordination with the district to support children and families affected by the strike. He affirmed the commitment of all parties involved to foster an environment where students thrive and educators feel supported.
