"Thousands of public schoolteachers in San Francisco went on strike Monday, the first public schoolteachers strike in the city in nearly 50 years. The strike comes after teachers and the district failed to reach an agreement over higher wages, health benefits, and more resources for special needs students. The San Francisco Unified School District closed all its 120 schools and said it would offer independent study to some of the district's 50,000 students. "We are facing an affordability crisis," Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco, said in a statement Sunday night. "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.""
"Teachers with the union were joining the picket line after last-ditch negotiations over the weekend failed to reach a new contract. Mayor Daniel Lurie and Democratic U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco had urged the two sides to keep talking rather than shut down schools. Union leaders planned to hold a news conference Monday morning about the strike and an afternoon rally was planned at San Francisco City Hall. Negotiations were scheduled to resume midday Monday."
"The union and the district have been negotiating for nearly a year, with teachers demanding fully funded family health care, salary raises and the filling of vacant positions impacting special education and services. The teachers also want the district to enact policies to support homeless and immigrant students and families. The union is asking for a 9% raise over two years, which would mean an additional $92 million per year for the district. They say that money could come from reserve funds that could be directed back to classrooms and school sites."
Thousands of San Francisco public schoolteachers initiated a strike, marking the first such action in nearly 50 years. The strike followed nearly a year of negotiations that failed to resolve disputes over higher wages, fully funded family health care, and staffing for special education. The district closed all 120 schools and offered independent study options for some of its roughly 50,000 students. Union demands include a 9% raise over two years and redirected reserve funds to classrooms. District officials cited a $100 million deficit and offered a smaller wage increase while talks were scheduled to resume.
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