West Contra Costa Educators Prepare for Possible Strike Action

RICHMOND — Educators in the West Contra Costa Unified School District are gearing up for a potential strike as negotiations for a new contract have stalled. After eight months of discussions, a significant majority of teachers and staff represented by the United Teachers of Richmond have expressed readiness to take action for improved pay, benefits, and student services.

The educators are advocating for a 10% salary increase over two years, full employer-paid health care, and enhancements in class sizes and special education provisions. The district’s counteroffer includes a single 2% salary increase and 85% employer-paid health care, which many educators find insufficient.

“We are ready to fight for our students and ourselves,” said Sandrine Demathieu, a teacher at Nystrom Elementary School. Alongside her colleague Masa Peterson, Demathieu participated in a community gathering to prepare for a potential strike. They discussed their dedication to teaching and the challenges posed by staffing shortages and high turnover rates. Both educators were part of the 98% of union members who voted to strike if necessary after their contract expired on June 30, 2023.

Peterson highlighted the long-term impact of education: “Teaching a student how to read affects the rest of their life. We are fighting for changes that benefit both individual students and the education system as a whole.”

In a statement on November 20, 2023, district Trustee Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy acknowledged the teachers’ demands while pointing to “genuine fiscal hardship” faced by the district. He cited inadequate state funding and rising operational costs as contributing factors. Gonzalez-Hoy, a former teacher, called for community collaboration to address these issues and emphasized the need for a fair contract that supports educators.

A report published by Private Equity Stakeholder Action revealed that the district’s spending on outside contracts has surged from $59 million to $117 million over the past five years. The report indicated that this increase has resulted in higher costs for special needs services while providing fewer one-on-one hours for students.

Concerns about the district’s financial stability were echoed by Marcus Walton, spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Office of Education. He noted that the district has struggled to hire the necessary staff to meet student needs. “The district made decisions that it believed were best for the community at the time,” Walton stated.

During a Board of Education meeting on November 19, 2023, Superintendent Cheryl Cotton acknowledged the need to reassess contract expenditures. “We must support our school sites and our education professionals,” she said, urging collaborative efforts to resolve financial challenges.

The situation has escalated as hearings were held with representatives from the United Teachers of Richmond and Teamsters Local Union 856, which represents around 1,500 district employees in various roles. A nonbinding report from these hearings will provide recommendations, but if no agreement is reached, the unions may proceed with strike action.

District spokesperson Raechelle Forrest assured the community that the district is committed to negotiations, stating, “We will continue discussions to avoid a strike that would harm our students.”

Meanwhile, a tentative agreement has emerged between the district and Teamsters that would grant members a 3% raise, with 2% retroactive to July 1, 2025 and an additional 1% starting on January 1, 2026. A vote on these terms is scheduled for December 1 and 2, 2023.

In contrast, members of United Teachers of Richmond remain skeptical about reaching a satisfactory agreement before a potential strike, which could commence as early as December 3, 2023. Families may face disruptions, including temporary relocations of students or large group monitoring in school facilities. Some parents have expressed intentions to keep their children home in support of the educators.

In preparation for possible strike action, the union has created a list of local food banks to assist families reliant on school meals. Union members are also exploring partnerships with community organizations to provide essential services during any potential strike, though specifics have yet to be disclosed.

As the deadline approaches, the West Contra Costa community awaits further developments in this critical negotiation.