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San Francisco Teachers Hit Picket Lines in First Strike in Decades
San Francisco, CA – Roughly 6,000 public school teachers in San Francisco began a strike Monday, marking the city’s first such walkout in nearly 50 years. The action comes after protracted negotiations between teachers and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) failed to yield an agreement on critical issues including higher wages, improved health benefits, and increased resources for students with special needs.
The strike has led to the closure of all 120 SFUSD schools, affecting approximately 50,000 students. The district stated it would offer independent study options to some students during the closure.
Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF), emphasized the union’s resolve at a Monday morning news conference. “We will continue to stand together until we win the schools our students deserve and the contracts our members deserve,” Curiel stated.
Last-minute negotiations over the weekend proved unsuccessful, prompting union members to form picket lines. Mayor Daniel Lurie and U.S.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi had previously urged both sides to continue discussions to avoid a school shutdown.
A rally at San Francisco City Hall was planned for Monday afternoon, with negotiations scheduled to resume around midday.
SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su expressed the district’s readiness to continue dialogue. “We look forward to receiving the union’s counteroffer,” Su told reporters, adding that the district had presented a comprehensive package despite significant financial challenges.
“This is a viable offer. It is an offer that we can afford,” Su asserted.
“We will be at the table and we will stay for as long as it takes to get to a full agreement. I do not want a prolonged strike.”
Many teachers say the current contract makes it difficult to afford to live in the city. Lily Perales, a history teacher at Mission High School, highlighted the struggles faced by her colleagues.
“Too many of my colleagues have been pushed out of the city because of the high cost of living, and with our current contract it’s not enough,” Perales said from a picket line. “We’re willing to be on strike until all of our demands are met.”
Aaron Hart, a photography and media arts teacher at Mission High, echoed these concerns, pointing to understaffed schools and the need for stability for students.
Negotiations have spanned nearly a year, with teachers advocating for fully funded family health care, salary increases, and the filling of vacant positions, particularly in special education. The union also seeks district policies to support homeless and immigrant students and families.
UESF is pushing for a 9% raise over two years, an estimated additional $92 million annually for the district. They suggest these funds could be drawn from existing reserve funds and redirected to classrooms.
However, SFUSD, which is operating with a $100 million deficit and under state financial oversight, has rejected this proposal. The district has instead offered a 6% wage increase staggered over three years, which Su stated also includes bonuses for all employees if a surplus is achieved by the 2027-28 school year.
A neutral fact-finding panel’s report last week recommended a compromise of a 6% increase over two years, largely aligning with the district’s claims of financial constraints.
Regarding health care, the union contends that San Francisco teachers receive some of the lowest contributions to their health care costs in the Bay Area, contributing to teacher attrition. Su noted that the district has offered two options: 75% family health coverage through Kaiser or an annual allowance of $24,000 for teachers to select their own health care plan.
Mayor Lurie, who previously mediated an agreement to end a hotel workers’ strike, stated that city agencies are coordinating with the district to support children and families during the strike. “I know everyone participating in these negotiations is committed to schools where students thrive and our educators feel truly supported, and I will continue working to ensure that,” Lurie posted on social media.
The strike in San Francisco comes as teachers in other major California cities are also considering similar actions. San Diego teachers have indicated a potential walkout next month, their first in 30 years, over disputes concerning special education staffing.
In Los Angeles, United Teachers Los Angeles members overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if negotiations with the LA Unified School District falter. A strike-authorization vote by Local 99 of Service Employees International Union, the school system’s other largest union, is slated for next week.