Sacramento City Unified strike ends, schools reopen

Sacramento City Unified teachers and school staff called off a strike Sunday night that has closed schools in the district for eight days.

The district serves 45,078 students.

The Sacramento City Teachers Association and school district leaders have been negotiating a contract since early 2019. They also have been bargaining over Covid-related issues for about two years, reaching an impasse in December.

Negotiations between district representatives and the Sacramento City Teachers Association and SEIU 1021, representing school staff, had been difficult over the past two weeks, but the sides came to terms Sunday night. A mass shooting in Sacramento Saturday that killed six and injured 12 changed the tone of negotiations, according to teachers union leaders.

“Now, we must focus on healing,” said Superintendent Jorge A. Aguilar in a statement announcing the agreement. “In addition to the trauma of the strike, our district joins everyone in our community and across the nation in profound heartache for the victims of senseless and tragic gun violence in downtown Sacramento last night. The events that unfolded in the midst of ongoing negotiations serves as a reminder that we have a role in working to prevent tragedies such as these. Schools serve as safe havens and centers of emotional and mental health support for many students. This tragedy underscores the importance of the return of our students and staff on Monday, and I look forward to welcoming our students back.”

The district agreed to an ongoing pay increase of 4%, retroactive to the beginning of this school year, for employees represented by both unions, as well as thousands of dollars in stipends. Substitute pay, increased by 25%, will be retroactive for the 2021-22 school year.

Potential changes to employee health care plans were one of the more contentious areas of negotiations. In the end, the district agreed to continue to offer fully paid health benefits, although both sides agreed to research alternatives.

The district also agreed on $2,000 bonuses aimed at recruiting and retaining bus drivers, which have been in short supply in the district. A $5,000 signing bonus will be offered for new bus drivers who are fully licensed to drive a bus and a $2,000 bonus for those who still need training.