San Francisco teachers have reached a tentative agreement with the school district to end their historic strike, marking the first such walkout in nearly 50 years and bringing relief to 50,000 students across 120 schools who had been in independent study. About 6,000 public schoolteachers walked off the job starting Monday and joined picket lines after last ditch negotiations failed to produce a new contract, with educators demanding higher wages, more health benefits, and more resources for students with special needs. Superintendent Maria Su announced that schools will reopen to staff Friday and to students Wednesday after two holidays, with district officials planning a news conference to share details on the agreement that ended the standoff.
The union and district had 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 that have left students without adequate support. Teachers originally asked for a 9 percent raise over two years which would have cost the district an additional $92 million per year, suggesting the money could come from reserve funds redirected back to classrooms and school sites. The district, facing a $100 million deficit and under state oversight because of a long standing financial crisis, had countered with a 6 percent wage increase paid over three years along with bonuses for all employees if there is a surplus by the 2027 to 2028 school year. The agreement comes after a neutral fact finding panel released a report last week recommending a compromise of a 6 percent increase over two years. This strike win is yet another example of people coming together to fight for positive change in their communities.
Source: https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/san-francisco-teachers-district-reach-deal-after-strike-130141386
