The union representing approximately 1,500 educators in the West Contra Costa Unified School District has overwhelmingly authorized a strike. Results from a week-long vote showed that 98% of participating members of the United Teachers of Richmond support a potential walkout amid stalled contract negotiations.
This development follows a similar move by Teamsters Local 856, which represents another 1,500 district employees and saw 96% of its voting members authorize a strike. The two unions are pushing for improved salary and working conditions in the district, which serves 25,000 students.
Key Takeaways
- United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) members voted 98% in favor of authorizing a strike.
- Teamsters Local 856, representing other district staff, also authorized a strike with 96% support.
- The primary dispute is over salary, with the teachers' union requesting a 10% raise over two years and the district offering 2%.
- The school board approved increasing substitute teacher pay to $550 per day in the event of a strike, nearly double the regular rate.
- A strike is not imminent; a state-mandated fact-finding process must be completed first, which could take several weeks.
Overwhelming Support for Strike Action
Educators in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) have been working without a contract since June. After months of negotiations failed to produce an agreement, the United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) held a strike authorization vote that concluded on October 14.
The results were decisive. Out of 1,383 ballots submitted, an overwhelming 98% voted in favor of authorizing a strike. The high participation and near-unanimous outcome signal significant frustration among teachers.
“I am not surprised we got this number and I’m not surprised we got like 99% participation either,” Juanita Flores-Mejia, a sixth-grade teacher at Ford Elementary, told local news outlets after the votes were tallied. She credited the union's organized effort in mobilizing members for the vote.
Two Unions on the Brink of Striking
The teachers are not alone. Teamsters Local 856, which represents 1,500 district employees in roles such as clerical staff, food service, maintenance, and security, also recently authorized a strike. On October 10, the Teamsters announced that 96% of its voting members were in favor of a walkout due to stalled salary and staffing negotiations.
The Path to a Potential Strike
While the vote authorizes union leadership to call a strike, it does not mean a walkout will happen immediately. The authorization serves as a powerful tool for the union during ongoing negotiations. Several steps must be completed before teachers can legally go on strike.
The district and the UTR are currently in a state-mandated impasse process. A state mediator has released both parties to the final stage: a fact-finding hearing before a state-appointed panel. This process involves:
- The district submitting relevant documents to the Public Employment Relations Board.
- The state scheduling a panel hearing within 10 days of the submission deadline.
- The panel issuing a public report within 20 days after the hearing.
Only after this report is made public can the union legally call for a strike, and they must provide the district with a 48-hour notice. UTR President Francisco Ortiz indicated that the duration of a potential strike is uncertain but hopes it would not be prolonged.
Historical Context
If both the teachers' and Teamsters' unions decide to strike, it would mark the first such labor action in the 60-year history of the West Contra Costa Unified School District.
District Prepares for Possible Walkout
In anticipation of a potential strike, the WCCUSD Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting to discuss contingency plans. The primary focus was on securing enough substitute teachers to keep schools open and operational.
To attract substitutes willing to cross a picket line, the board voted 4-1 to increase their daily pay rate. The approved rate is $550 per day, a significant increase from the standard $280 per day. Superintendent Cheryl Cotto had initially proposed $750, arguing that the higher pay was necessary for a “challenging situation.”
“People who are going to have to cross the picket line … are going to be yelled at, be insulted,” Cotto told the board. “We have a responsibility to ensure that schools continue.”
Debate Over Substitute Pay
The decision to nearly double the substitute pay was met with some controversy. Trustee Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy, the lone dissenting vote, argued for a lower rate of $400. He expressed concern that paying substitutes more than the daily rate of many full-time teachers would be insulting and could prolong a strike.
“My per diem as a teacher was $290,” Gonzalez-Hoy said. “If I was making that today and I saw you’re paying subs $750, I would be on the strike line as long as it took for the district to pay what I need.”
Other districts have offered similar high rates during strikes. Last year, Oakland’s school district advertised $700 for strike substitutes, and in 2023, Fresno Unified paid them $500.
Core Issues Driving the Dispute
The central point of contention in the negotiations is salary. The teachers' union has been asking for a 10% raise over two years since April. The district initially offered a 0% raise before recently countering with a 2% proposal, which the union rejected.
Beyond pay, other unresolved issues include:
- Changes to special education programs
- Class size limits
- Proposals to reduce the workload for special education teachers, therapists, and school nurses
Many teachers feel the fight is not just about their own compensation but about the future of the district. Jeffrey Bean, a fifth-grade teacher, said he voted “yes” to strike because he believes it is necessary to improve conditions for both educators and students.
“If we are out of school for three or four days next month and that forces the district to change their ways and it makes it so that the following year I don’t have empty classrooms next door to me. That will be well worth it,” Bean stated. He emphasized that higher pay is crucial for attracting and retaining qualified teachers in the district.
