Oakland teachers decide to strike Thursday, schools will remain open
3,000 Oakland teachers to strike Thursday after negotiations with district fail
The Oakland teachers union has decided to go forward with their strike on Thursday after negotiations with the school district have failed. While both sides are disappointed, staffed schools will be open Thursday for families who do not have child care options.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland teachers are heading to the picket lines Thursday after six days of negotiations failed to produce a new contract for the 3,000 members of the Oakland Education Association.
The union says their members will be out on the picket lines in front of the schools starting at 7:30 a.m. A rally in support of the teachers is planned in front of City Hall from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
OUSD said in a statement that schools will remain open and central office staff will be assigned to the schools to ensure any students who do come to school are safe.
Talks continued late into the evening Wednesday at the ATU Local 192 hall near the Oakland Coliseum.
Around 9 p.m., the district announced there was no deal and warned parents to prepare for the strike on Thursday. The district will hold its own news conference at10:30 a.m., to discuss the strike and its impact on students. And the district says it will not answer any reporters' questions or clarifications before then.
OEA interim President Ismael Armendariz said the union bargaining team members had been waiting all day for language in writing, but the district had not produced a response.
"We had some initial good conversations with the district today in the morning. They promised us a full comprehensive package. It is now nine o'clock, and we have not received any package proposal from the district," said Armendariz.
OUSD Board President Mike Hutchinson told KTVU that the district has presented the union with multiple responses to the union's demands in bullet-point format and has been bargaining in good faith.
"My understanding is we were close on most, if not all issues. And I'm very disappointed that instead of finishing negotiations, that the teachers' union has decided to strike starting tomorrow. And I'm still hopeful that they will come back to the table, and we can finish the negotiations," said Hutchinson.
In its latest proposal, the district offered all teachers a pay increase of anywhere from 13 to 23%, depending on their years of experience.
Earlier this week, the union said they were happy with that salary proposal - better pay is one of the things their members have been asking for.
But the union also asked for other things like more mental health counselors and a guarantee of better equipment in the classroom, like working WiFi.
OUSD officials also said specific site instructions will be provided by principals at each location.
"Solidarity schools" may announce they are opening during the strike; however these schools are not sanctioned by the OUSD, officials said.
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Oakland teachers' strike looms as parents prepare for possible cancelled classes
After nearly a week of intense contract negotiations, the Oakland teachers’ union and Oakland Unified School District have still not reached a contract agreement. But the district said a deal is within reach.
Information provided by OUSD on strike is available in several languages here.
Information provided by OEA on strike is available on this link here.