Historical Turnout: Educators Vote to Authorize Strike Action

Walking into Balboa High School yesterday at 6 pm on Wednesday, October 11th, to cast my vote in favor of authorizing a strike rekindled my fervor for championing the cause of San Francisco’s dedicated educators. In August 2023, it was reported that 53 different unions across California had resorted to striking this year, underscoring the winds of change sweeping through society. Today, we celebrate the historic voter turnout of over 3000 educators, with an overwhelming 97% voting in favor of strike authorization, a testament to our union’s unified strength.

It is simply inconceivable that our educators, the backbone of The City’s future, find themselves unable to afford to reside in the very place they work. The ongoing Empower payroll system debacle, with teachers poring over each line of their pay stubs for accuracy, is nothing short of a disgrace.

This op-ed underscores the magnificence of the teaching profession and the imperative need for a wage revolution. To maintain the presence of seasoned educators and inspire the next generation to join this incredible workforce, we must accurately portray the immense significance of educators’ work and recompense them accordingly. 

Teachers are multifaceted professionals with advanced degrees, possessing the skills to understand and address the diverse needs of their students. They meticulously craft lessons designed to foster both academic growth and social emotional fulfillment. Additionally, they constantly engage in self-reflection, professional development, data analysis, goal-setting, and effective communication with colleagues, parents, and other stakeholders. Furthermore, the district has a diverse range of educator roles, each playing a vital part in cultivating enriching learning environments where children are cared for and nurtured. Given the vastness of their responsibilities, all educators in the system deserve a substantial increase in their current salaries. This has never been more clear than it is today.

As I stepped into Balboa High School yesterday and met numerous colleagues from various schools, a profound sense of pride in our community of educators washed over me. The schoolyard was packed with thousands of colleagues who came to vote. Yet, alongside this pride, there was an undercurrent of deep frustration that we continue to grapple with the same challenges and our collective disappointment about the current situation is high. 

Moreover, two months into the school year numerous teacher positions remain unfilled across the district, and a critical substitute teacher shortage persists. The prevailing heavy malaise among educators and schools is undeniably linked to the district’s lack of support, the ongoing issues with the Empower payroll system, and educators’ inability to afford living in The City due to skyrocketing inflation and inadequate salaries.

Each day is a new day for district and city leadership to leave an indelible mark on history, to shift gears to champion the cause of teachers, proclaiming that we cannot effectively nurture children without wholeheartedly supporting their educators. Supporting educators means paying them appropriately and expeditiously rectifying the payroll issue. It takes exceptional courage and genuine leadership to step away from the status quo and usher in a brighter future. 

Imagine a world where educators are respected, honored, supported, encouraged, and cherished. We’ve reached the breaking point, no longer willing to accept inadequate compensation or painstakingly review our pay stubs for accuracy regarding pay amounts, leave time, retirement contributions, 403b accounts, and more. A strike is a last resort, but the time for action has come. District leaders, please take this into serious consideration during your upcoming negotiations on Monday, October 16, 2023. The duration of this situation has been excessive; educators clearly stand resolute and unwavering.

Whether or not you have children within the district, I implore you to rally behind San Francisco’s educators. They touch the lives of so many children, the kids of your neighborhood’s grocery store clerk, your Uber driver’s children, your neighbor’s kids, and even the person delivering your mail. Educators (teachers, social workers, nurses, counselors, security guards, family liaisons, noon time monitors, librarians, school psychologists, paraprofessionals, administrators, teachers on special assignment, and substitutes) are the intricate threads woven into the fabric of our city, and the more we support, encourage, and fairly compensate them, the more vibrant, robust, dynamic, and joyful all of our worlds become.  Everyone can champion our City educators, so let’s please all commit to that daily promise.

FOR NOW, PLEASE FOLLOW @UNITEDEDUCATORSOFSF ON IG FOR UPDATES OR, VIA FACEBOOK, AND TWITTER.

Previous articles about SFUSD:

• Article about SFUSD salary negotiations – September 2023:  3 reasons why everybody, regardless of parental status, should support educators during these negotiations

• Article to SFUSD leadership- August 2022: Open letter to San Francisco school district and city leadership on the need to support the adults caring for the kids

• Article to explain resignation crisis in public ed- June 2022: Showing up with financial support for educators during the resignation crisis in education