BUSD teachers, district to meet with state mediators amid statewide contract disputes

"From Los Angeles to Sacramento, teachers unions, many fueled by the We Can't Wait campaign organized by the California Teachers Association and a slew of contract renewals, are rallying for higher pay, better benefits, smaller class sizes and other classroom improvements. Some are threatening to strike. In the nearby West Contra Costa Unified School District, the call for improved pay and benefits, and classroom improvements, resulted in a six-day strike by the district's 1,450 teachers that ended earlier this month."

"The teachers won an 8% pay raise over two years and will no longer have to pay health premiums. The West Contra Costa strike is emboldening other teachers unions that are at an impasse with their districts over contract negotiations, including in Berkeley, where teachers began the year on an expired contract. This [WCCUSD] strike was a last but necessary resort to get their district to respond in a serious way to the very real needs of students"

"BFT represents more than 900 educators at the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD). BUSD and the teacher's union declared an impasse in their contract negotiations in late November, adding to the number of school districts in the Bay Area and California where labor talks have broken down. The district and BFT have met 17 times to negotiate a new contract since Nov. 20, without success, according to the union."

Teachers unions across California, from Los Angeles to Sacramento, are rallying for higher pay, better benefits, smaller class sizes, and other classroom improvements, often fueled by the We Can't Wait campaign organized by the California Teachers Association and a slew of contract renewals. Some unions are threatening strikes. A six-day strike in West Contra Costa Unified School District by 1,450 teachers won an 8% pay raise over two years and eliminated health premium payments. That victory is emboldening other unions facing impasses, including Berkeley, where teachers began the year on an expired contract. BFT represents more than 900 educators. The district and BFT have met 17 times since Nov. 20 without reaching an agreement.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org