SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of public school teachers in San Francisco went on strike on Monday, marking the first public school teachers' strike in the city in nearly 50 years.
The strike arises from unresolved negotiations regarding higher wages, enhanced health benefits, and additional resources for special needs students. As a result, the San Francisco Unified School District has closed all of its 120 schools, offering independent study options to some of the district's 50,000 students.
“We are facing an affordability crisis,” stated Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco. “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.”
Educators joined the picket line after last-minute talks over the weekend did not yield a new contract. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Democratic U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi urged both parties to continue discussions instead of closing schools.
Union leaders announced a news conference Monday morning concerning the strike, with an afternoon rally scheduled at San Francisco City Hall. Negotiations are slated to resume at noon on the same day.
For nearly a year, the union and district have been in negotiations, with teachers seeking fully funded family health care, salary increases, and the filling of vacant positions crucial to special education services.
They demand a 9% raise over two years, which would require an additional $92 million per year from the district, potentially sourced from reserve funds that could be redirected to classrooms. However, the SFUSD, facing a $100 million deficit and state oversight from a prolonged financial crisis, rejected this proposal. Instead, they offered a 6% salary increase distributed over three years, along with potential bonuses if a surplus arises by the 2027-28 school year.
A recent report from a neutral advisory panel recommended a compromise of a 6% increase over two years, mostly aligned with the district's claims of financial constraints. Union representatives emphasized that San Francisco teachers receive significantly less support towards their health care costs compared to other Bay Area districts, which has caused many to leave the profession.
The district countered with two options: either it would pay 75% of family health coverage at Kaiser or offer an annual allowance of $24,000 for teachers to select their health care plan. Mayor Lurie, who previously facilitated agreements between parties, expressed commitment to supporting children's education and the needs of educators during this challenging negotiation process.
