Teachers' Unions Across the State Mobilizing in Labor Fights | KQED

"San Francisco teachers are in their third day of a high-stakes labor fight with the district, leaving nearly 50,000 students out of school. And they're not alone. Across California, more local teachers unions are in active disputes right now, from bargaining breakdowns to strike authorizations and walkouts. A new report commissioned by LA County lays out how ICE raids there have hurt some local businesses."

"Danielle Mahones is with UC Berkeley's Labor Center. "They are organizing together across districts with parents and students to demand the schools that every California student deserves," she said. "Which translates to fully funded classrooms and school sites with appropriate staffing of educators and paraeducators and be able to live in the districts where they serve students. It means having access to appropriate healthcare. So that's what we're seeing.""

San Francisco teachers are on the third day of a strike after nearly a year of tense contract negotiations reached an impasse, leaving nearly 50,000 students out of school. Educators demand higher wages to match Bay Area living costs and fully funded family health care, while the district cites a dire budget crisis that prevents meeting those demands. Teacher labor disputes are occurring across California, with San Diego planning a walkout and United Teachers Los Angeles authorizing a strike; more than two dozen unions report impasses. Organizing across districts targets fully funded classrooms, appropriate staffing, living wages, and healthcare access. An LA County report links ICE raids to harm to some local businesses.

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