UESF and SFUSD Reach Historic Agreement for San Francisco Educators
After months of negotiations, the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) have reached a landmark tentative agreement. This agreement marks a significant victory for educators in San Francisco, as it includes raises and promotes unity and solidarity within the education community.
The UESF, with its formidable big bargaining team, has been at the forefront of this historic achievement. Throughout the bargaining process, the union transformed from solely focusing on representational support to becoming a union dedicated to organizing. Members engaged in various activities such as signature gathering, informational pickets, rallies, and signing strike commitment votes, all aimed at building unity and solidarity.
To strengthen their cause, UESF implemented several strategies. They elected a union building representative at every school site, trained over 60 rank and file educator leaders in negotiations, and provided critical organizing skills to an additional 40 members through the contract action team. This inclusive approach was particularly crucial as UESF represents not only teachers but also other vital education professionals such as nurses, social workers, counselors, psychologists, and paraeducators.
One of the primary challenges UESF faced was achieving equitable and meaningful raises for all members. Over the past decade, raises had been consistently applied across all classifications, resulting in an increasing gap between the lowest and highest paid workers. Some paraeducators were earning less than $20 an hour, prompting many new teachers to seek employment outside of San Francisco.
However, the new agreement addresses this issue by ensuring that paraeducators receive no less than $30 per hour, making it one of the highest hourly wages for their positions in California. Additionally, certificated staff will benefit from a $9,000 pay increase, which makes the starting salary for new teachers more competitive. This agreement represents the highest single-year percentage increase in the last 15 years.
The achievements made in this tentative agreement reflect the newfound power of the union. Over the two-year contract, certificated members will experience an average increase of 19.4%. The minimum increase is 12.8% for higher salary earners and an impressive 45.5% for lower salary earners. However, the cornerstone of this agreement lies in the substantial wins for paraeducators. They will witness an average increase of 39% in hourly wages, with some receiving a remarkable 82.3% raise.
This victory for paraeducators is particularly noteworthy considering that classified members only received the same percentage in raises with the 2017 contract. To achieve true equity, UESF united its leadership bodies and fought for paraeducators to forge deep unity among its members.
The solidarity and unity among UESF’s big bargaining team were evident in a memorable moment during the negotiations. Certificated members decided to forgo $1,000 from their proposed salary increases to preserve steps for paraeducators, benefiting the most experienced members in the classified unit. This selfless decision prevented a potential stalemate at 3am and helped pave the way for a successful agreement. In the end, UESF secured an agreement worth $187 million, despite the district’s original offer of $50 million.
The tentative agreement is currently being put to a vote for approval by UESF members. As this chapter comes to a close, both hope and introspection prevail. Returning to in-person instruction has posed significant challenges, compounded by the disruptive impacts of the pandemic on the public school system. The SFUSD experienced leadership changes, a controversial school board recall, and the implementation of a flawed payroll system, further impacting its credibility.
Rather than placing blame solely on the institution, UESF sought to build an alternative and demonstrate the power of a union rooted in and informed by its rank and file. Through internal communication networks, the union forced the district to establish working groups and address payroll errors. Combining legal and organizational strategies, UESF set high expectations as the new standard, ensuring that all members receive the pay and benefits they deserve.
The victories achieved by UESF are reminiscent of historical wins by other unions such as the United Autoworkers Unions, the Teamsters, and the Writers Guild of America. Educators are rightfully demanding their fair share of an economy that has become unsustainable due to corporate greed and a discrepancy in the funding of public services. The UESF’s triumph serves as a reminder that when workers unite and fight for their rights, they can overcome even the most formidable obstacles.
As the UAW President, Shawn Fain, aptly stated, both corporations and politicians have underestimated the power of the labor movement. UESF’s historic tentative agreement is a testament to the strength and determination of educators in San Francisco. With this victory, the union has set a new benchmark and will continue to work towards achieving even more for the public schools, students, families, educators, and the city they serve.
