Oakland Teachers Go On Strike, Demand Pay Raises

OAKLAND, Calif. — Teachers in Oakland, California, went on strike Thursday, part of an ongoing national wave of discontent by educators over classroom conditions, pay and other issues. Recent walkouts have taken place in West Virginia, Los Angeles and Denver.þþThe city's 3,000 teachers want a 12-percent retroactive raise covering 2017 to 2020 to compensate for what they say are the among the lowest salaries for public school teachers in the expensive San Francisco Bay Area. They also want the district to hire more counselors to support students and more full-time nurses.þþA union leader said the educators were forced to strike because he said administrators did not listen to their demands for two years.þþÿFor two years we have been negotiating with the Oakland Unified School District to make our students a priority over outside consultants and central office administrators,ÿ said Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown. ÿIt's time for them to listen to the voices of the community.ÿþþThe walkout affects 36,000 students at 86 schools.þþThe district said schools would remain open, staffed by non-union employees and substitute teachers. However, parents should not expect school as usual, it said.þþÿWe're hopeful that we can find a resolution as soon as possible,ÿ said district spokesman John Sasaki.þþTeachers have been working without a contract since 2017 and have said their salaries have not kept up with the cost of living.þþA starting salary in the district is $46,500 a year, and the average salary is $63,000, according to the union. By comparison, a starting teacher makes $51,000 a year in neighboring Berkeley, and the average salary is $75,000, the union said.þþInitially, the district offered a 5 percent raise covering 2017 to 2020, saying it is squeezed by rising costs and a budget crisis.þþIn negotiations Wednesday aimed at averting a strike, the district increased its proposal to a 7 percent raise over four years and a one-time 1.5 percent bonus. The offer went higher than the recommendation of an independent fact-finding report that suggested the sides agree to a compromise 6-percent retroactive raise.þþBut union officials rejected the offer.