School principals, maintenance workers: If teachers strike, we will too

"The 253 principals, assistant principals, program administrators and supervisors "voted by a strong margin to authorize this sympathy strike," wrote United Administrators of San Francisco president Anna Klafter. "We recognize that school closures-even temporary ones-are disruptive and stressful for families. However, as long as educators remain on the picket line, there is no safe way to operate schools as usual.""

"Superintendent Maria Su today announced that in the event of a strike on Monday, all school sites will close. Plans to disseminate food to families reliant upon school breakfasts and lunches will rely upon third-party sites, as will after-school programs. At this morning's press conference, Su broke down in tears after announcing that the district has not been able to reach an agreement with the teachers union."

"In addition to principals and administrators, the clerks and custodians represented by the SEIU 1021 union have also authorized a sympathy strike. Su today said that the union yesterday declined to provide a counteroffer. An SFUSD communique said that, on Thursday evening, the district's bargaining team offered two options for health benefits, neither of which are fully funded, in addition to an offer of a six percent raise over the course of three years. The union refused this offer."

Two hundred fifty-three principals, assistant principals, program administrators and supervisors authorized a sympathy strike in solidarity with teachers, and clerks and custodians represented by SEIU 1021 also authorized a sympathy strike. The superintendent announced that if teachers strike Monday, all school sites will close and meal distribution and after-school programs will move to third-party sites. The superintendent said the union declined to provide a counteroffer after the district offered two health benefit options, neither fully funded, plus a six percent raise over three years; the union refused the offer. Past strike threats were averted after marathon bargaining.

Read at Mission Local