'Our babies should have been in school today:' Oakland teachers on strike

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland teachers went on strike Thursday after seven days of negotiations failed to produce a new contract for the 3,000 members of the Oakland Education Association.

"They're neglecting their duty," OEA president Ismael Armendariz said outside Manzanita Elementary School. "The district and the union have been having productive conversations, but the school board has failed to meet give their chief negotiator the authority to bargain with us."

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. 

At a news conference, Supt. Kyla Johnson-Trammell noted that "our community is suffering" because of the strike. 

"Our kids need stability and routine, and the joy this season usually brings more than ever," she said. "I am disappointed, but I promise you that we are and will continue to do all we can to get our kids back in school and get these negotiations resolved." 
 

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.

"So when I see messages that claim that OUSD has not been bargaining has not shown up at the table. That is incorrect," he said. "We are in a very difficult situation, though, now because negotiations have been broken off." 
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.

In their "Common Good" demands, the teachers also demanded things including six "restorative days" to combat burnout, the first week of school to solely focus on fostering a positive school climate, reparations for Black students, prohibiting the closure of certain schools, a voice on steering committees, providing climate-controled, green classrooms, and offer subsidized transportation for students. 

The superintendent said she agreed with these ideas in principle, but they are unrealistic asks. 

"The district attempting to singularly solve complex societal realities such as homelessness that go far beyond the scope of what public schools can and should do alone," Johnson-Trammell said. 

Several parents weren't happy.

"I'm frustrated with the whole situation," Shakira More said. "My concern is that the kids aren't going ot be able to graduate. How are they going to pass? What's the plan, with just 20 days of school?" 

Lakisha Young, CEO of Oakland REACH parent advocacy group, was not pleased with either side.

"Our babies should have been in school today, and they should be in school tomorrow," Young said. "We have to stop allowing for our bargaining process to turn into strikes every three years."

The last Oakland teachers' strike was in 2019 and lasted seven days. School ends on May 25.