Urgent: West Contra Costa School District Faces Teacher Strikes

UPDATE: The West Contra Costa Unified School District is on the brink of a significant teacher and staff strike as contract negotiations hit a deadlock. The United Teachers of Richmond and Teamsters Local 856, representing approximately 3,000 employees, have voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes if their demands are not met.

In an astonishing show of unity, 95% of United Teachers and 96% of Teamsters members have signaled their readiness to take action. The current contracts for both unions expired on June 30, 2025, and despite negotiations beginning in early 2025, talks have stagnated.

“We need to prioritize stability for our students, now,” declared Francisco Ortiz, President of the United Teachers of Richmond, in a press release. The unions are demanding higher wages, increased staffing, and improved working conditions as pressures mount on educators and support staff.

In response to the looming strike, the district has engaged a third party for mediation and fact-finding. If no resolution is reached, the unions will have the legal grounds to initiate a strike, with serious implications for student education and safety.

Trustees held a special meeting recently, voting to boost substitute teacher pay to $550 per day, a significant increase from the regular $280. This move reflects the district’s concern over potential staffing shortages during a strike. However, Demetrio Gonzalez Hoy, a trustee of the WCCUSD, cautioned against excessively high pay for substitutes, warning it could escalate tensions and prolong the strike.

The overwhelming support for a strike, with a 98% backing vote from the United Teachers, reveals the growing frustration among teachers working without a contract. Juanita Flores-Mejia, a sixth-grade teacher at Ford Elementary, highlighted the strong organization within the union to mobilize such a decisive vote.

Amid fiscal instability, district representatives are striving to secure a fair deal to avoid a strike, emphasizing the need to maintain student safety and educational access. Superintendent Cheryl Cotton acknowledged that managing substitutes during a strike is a “challenging situation,” underscoring the necessity of the increased pay rate.

As tensions rise, the West Contra Costa Unified School District must navigate these developing challenges swiftly. The potential strike not only affects the employees but will have immediate repercussions for students and families as educational disruptions loom.

Stay tuned for updates as negotiations continue and the situation develops. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, and the community awaits a resolution that prioritizes the needs of both educators and students.