In the face of steep budget cuts, negotiations stall between Oakland Unified and teachers union

""This position is not a reflection of the value the district places on its educators, but rather a necessary step to ensure compliance with state fiscal standards, avoid deficit spending, and preserve long-term financial stability," the proposal said."

""In our last bargaining cycle, we focused on our newest educators and some in the middle," Taiz-Rancifer told The Oaklandside. "The veteran teachers didn't really make much movement. They're at the bottom of pay in the Bay Area and so what happens is, folks will, at the end of their careers, start moving to other districts because they want to retire with a higher amount of pay.""

After nine months of bargaining, negotiations between Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland Education Association stalled and independent mediators were brought in. The teams met in state-appointed mediation for two days with no progress, so the next step is fact-finding. OUSD's November wage proposal offered no raise, citing state fiscal compliance, avoidance of deficit spending, and preservation of long-term financial stability. OEA, representing more than 2,600 educators and support staff, requested a 14% raise over two years with higher increases for top-scale employees and raised concerns about low veteran pay driving departures. PERB will appoint a fact-finder to collect information and issue recommendations during a process that could take weeks; further union actions remain possible if no agreement is reached.

Read at The Oaklandside