Hundreds of teachers in the Dublin Unified School District walked off the job and onto picket lines Monday morning, launching an open-ended strike after weekend negotiations with the district failed to produce an agreement. The strike by more than 700 members of the Dublin Teachers Association centers on disputes over salary increases, healthcare contributions, and classroom sizes.
While schools across the district remain open, they are operating on modified half-day schedules. District officials confirmed that learning activities will not resemble a typical school day, though breakfast and lunch services will continue.
Key Takeaways
- Over 700 Dublin teachers are on strike after contract negotiations with the school district stalled.
- The main points of contention are salary increases, healthcare costs, and large class sizes.
- The Dublin Teachers Association is asking for a 3.5% raise, while the district has offered 2% plus a one-time 1% payment.
- Schools are open but on a modified schedule, with the district managing operations without its teaching staff.
Negotiations Stall on Key Issues
Months of bargaining came to a halt after a final round of talks over the weekend failed to bridge the gap between the two sides. The teachers, who have been working without a contract since it expired last June, say the district's offers are insufficient to address the rising cost of living and deteriorating classroom conditions.
The Dublin Teachers Association (DTA) has proposed a 3.5% salary increase for the current school year, followed by a raise equivalent to the cost-of-living allowance for the next academic year. Educators point out they have not received a pay raise in two years.
In response, the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) has offered a 2% ongoing raise and a one-time payment of 1%. The district maintains its proposal is in line with recommendations from a neutral fact-finding panel.
The Sticking Points Beyond Salary
While wages are a central component of the dispute, teachers emphasize that working conditions are an equally critical concern. The union is pushing for significant changes to class size caps and support staff resources.
"Obviously, I’d rather be in the classroom," said Greg Rodriguez, a history teacher at Emerald High School, while walking the picket line. "But at the same point, we’re fighting for them, fighting for us. Until we can figure out the stuff outside the classroom, then the stuff inside the classroom is going to have to take a back seat for now."
The DTA is demanding that elementary school classes be capped at 20 students. They also want to reduce high school teachers' total student load from approximately 165 to 150 students, which would align it with middle school levels.
A Look at the Numbers
Catie Tombs, an English teacher at Dublin High School and a member of the DTA bargaining team, illustrated the impact of large classes. She reported having an average class size of 36 students and over 100 students in an advanced writing course. She explained that providing meaningful feedback is nearly impossible under these conditions.
"At even 2 minutes on each, that’s 200 minutes of feedback on essays," Tombs said. "That is an entire week of prep periods, plus the next prep period. I can’t get grades back fast enough."
Other key demands include retaining counselor positions at elementary schools, which teachers fear are at risk of being cut, and adjusting caseloads for special education teachers to better reflect student needs. According to Tombs, the district has refused to move on these items.
District Cites Budget Constraints
District officials have repeatedly stated that their budget cannot sustain the union's full list of proposals, which they estimated would cost around $32 million. In a public statement, the district noted it has operated with a budget deficit for the past three years, which has significantly depleted its reserve funds.
Assistant Superintendent Matt Campbell said the district's current offer would cost about $11.6 million. He acknowledged that accepting this plan would still require "difficult financial decisions" and an estimated $6.3 million in budget cuts in 2027.
Healthcare Costs a Major Factor
Another area of disagreement is employee health benefits. The DUSD contributes less toward healthcare premiums compared to many neighboring districts. The fact-finding panel recommended that the district move toward covering the full cost of employee premiums by 2028 and increase its contributions for family plans, a recommendation the district included in its offer.
The district has expressed that compromise is necessary to reach a resolution. "Negotiations are meant to produce compromise," the district said in a statement, adding that the union's overall request remains far beyond what is financially sustainable.
Uncertainty for Students and Families
With the strike underway, the district is focused on maintaining basic operations. All school sites are open for half-days, but only Dublin and Emerald High Schools will remain open in the afternoons. The district has assured families that student safety and well-being are the top priorities during the work stoppage.
"Our focus remains on supporting students, families, and staff as we continue to work toward a resolution," the district communicated to parents.
It remains unclear how long the strike will last. Union representatives have stated their negotiating team is ready to meet with the district at any time, but as of Monday morning, no new talks were scheduled. This action in Dublin follows a pattern of recent educator strikes in the Bay Area, including a four-day strike in San Francisco and a narrowly averted strike in Oakland, highlighting ongoing tensions between school districts and their teaching staff across the region.