SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thousands of teachers in the San Francisco public school system initiated a strike on Monday, marking the first teachers' strike in the city in nearly 50 years. The strike follows a breakdown in negotiations between the United Educators of San Francisco and the district regarding essential issues such as wage increases, health care benefits, and support for special needs students.
The San Francisco Unified School District shut down all 120 of its schools, which serve approximately 50,000 students, while offering independent study options as teachers rallied for their rights on the picket lines. We are facing an affordability crisis, stated Cassondra Curiel, president of the educators' union. She emphasized that the high family healthcare premiums, which can reach $1,500 a month, are forcing talented educators out of the district.
After a weekend of last-ditch negotiations that failed to yield a satisfactory agreement, teachers joined the picket lines. Local leaders including Mayor Daniel Lurie and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have encouraged both sides to return to the bargaining table and seek a resolution.
Union representatives and teachers organized a press conference and rallied outside City Hall Monday, underscoring their demands for better working conditions, including fully funded family healthcare, salary increases, and adequate staffing for special education.
Union leaders are requesting a 9% salary increase distributed over two years, which would cost the district an additional $92 million annually. However, the district, facing a $100 million deficit and operating under state oversight, has only offered a 6% increase stretched over three years, with additional incentives based on financial performance over time.
As negotiations continue, union representatives have highlighted the need for policies that support vulnerable populations, including homeless and immigrant students, stressing the importance of addressing broader community needs alongside financial negotiations.
Superintendent Maria Su responded to union requests by proposing options for healthcare coverage, yet the educators argue that they receive some of the lowest contributions to their health care costs in the Bay Area, which is a significant factor in their decision to strike.
While the city coordinates with the district to deploy resources for families and children during this disruption, the outcome of these negotiations will have long-term implications not only for teachers but also for the educational landscape in San Francisco.
