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A historic, week-long strike for United Educators of San Francisco came to an end Friday when the union and San Francisco United School District agreed on a tentative contract after nearly a year of negotiations.
The union won fully-funded health care and an 8.5% raise over two years for classified staff including paraprofessionals. Teachers will get a 5% raise over two years. It’s a compromise between the district’s original offer of 2% and the union’s demand of an increase between 9% and 14%.
Improving special education working conditions was also a key demand for the union. The tentative agreement includes caseload reductions, increased pay for added duties and requirements to ensure students receive special education services in a timely manner.
United Educators of San Francisco began its first strike in nearly 50 years on Monday after 11 months of failed negotiations with the district. Schools were shuttered for roughly 50,000 students as thousands of educators flocked to picket lines. More than 250 principals, office clerks and custodians in two other unions went on a sympathy strike in solidarity.
“None of this would have been possible without the thousands of you who have shown up to our board actions, signed petitions to commit to our campaign, written letters to our Board of Education, and — in the last four days — shown up in the rain to support your big bargaining team in the streets,” the union said in a statement. “This strike has made it clear what is possible when we join together and fight for the stability in our schools that many have said was out of our reach.”
While staff reported to work on Friday, students will return on Feb. 18 after two previously scheduled holidays. Superintendent Maria Su said in a statement that the agreement marked “a new beginning.”
“I recognize that this past week has been challenging,” she said. “Thank you to the (district) staff, community-based partners, and faith and city leaders who partnered with us to continue centering our students in our work every day. I am so proud of the resilience and strength of our community. ”
Other contract wins include limits on the district’s use of artificial intelligence, according to the union. The district and union also agreed on a proposal to classify schools as sanctuary spaces for immigrant students, staff and families. The policy bars federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering school grounds or obtaining records without a criminal judicial warrant. Staff will also receive three hours of training to enforce these policies.
The union said information about the contract ratification process will be announced in the near future and leaders are planning to host town halls. The agreement still needs to be approved by both the union and school board.
“We know our work is not done,” the union said. “While we didn’t win everything we know we deserve, this strike allowed us to imagine our schools and classrooms as they should be with staffing levels high enough that our students can learn and thrive. This is a foundation for a stable district.”
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