For nearly 10 months, bargaining teams for the West Contra Costa Unified School District and the United Teachers of Richmond have gone back and forth about key contract issues such as pay, healthca…
Freshly painted safety pin patches hang to dry at Bridge Art Studios in Richmond, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District are preparing for a possible strike after their two unions voted in favor if the district does not meet their demands.
RICHMOND — West Contra Costa County educators say they’re still gearing up for a strike despite the release of a state report meant to help move the teachers union and district administrators closer to a new contract. United Teachers of Richmond, which represents about 1,400 educators across dozens of campuses, alerted district leadership that the union plans to begin its strike Thursday. Picketing will begin at every campus 45 minutes before the first bell sounds, the union announced in a press release Monday evening. “Striking is the last resort — we want to teach. But we know this truth: the status quo is failing our students,” read the press release set out by union President Francisco Ortiz. “This is about our students’ futures — nothing less.” For nearly 10 months, bargaining teams for the West Contra Costa Unified School District and the United Teachers of Richmond have gone back and forth about key contract issues such as pay, healthcare benefits, class sizes and working conditions. A shaky financial footing prevents the district from offering more, administrators say. The union counters that funding spent on outsourcing services could and should be redirected to help meet their demands. Both parties have valid concerns, according to the report written by arbitrator David Handsher and shared by the California Teachers Association on Nov. 29. While the union has asked for a 10% raise over two years and the district countered with a one-time 2% raise back paid to July 1 and another 1% added at the start of 2026, Handsher recommended a 6% raise broken down into three parts. Handsher also recommended the district increase its healthcare contribution from the current 80% to 85% beginning Jan. 1, 2026, with another 5% added at the start of 2027. “Little would be gained by pushing the district to jeopardize its financial stability by overly ambitious immediate action. A long term, continuing effort by the district to compensate teachers and others in the bargaining unit to the maximum extent possible is needed to provide for an educational system that the community wants and deserves,” read the report. The report also recommended hard caps for physical education classes and speech pathologist case loads, additional professional development programs to help address staffing and a survey of campuses to identify where classroom temperatures need to be addressed. The union and district are not required to adopt the recommendations put forward in the report. Their written responses, in which each side took issue with certain findings, were also shared by the California Teachers Association. After agreeing to make more than $32 million in budget reductions over a period of about three years, the district argued that millions more in cuts would be needed if they agreed to the report recommendations. Some elements of the recommendations, including efforts to improve classroom temperatures and increase the employers contribution to healthcare, were added to the district’s latest offer, according to a copy shared by the union. Meanwhile, the union argues that the recommendations don’t go far enough to address what educators have described as a serious crisis impacting students and staff alike. Plans to strike were moving forward by Monday evening after meeting with the district at 3:30 p.m. to receive their latest offer, the union said. “Some of the mediator’s recommendations are a step in the right direction, but they alone will not solve our staffing crisis. Our educators and our students cannot continue to wait on temporary fixes and incremental changes,” Ortiz said in a Monday morning press release. “We need an end to this staffing crisis now. We will do whatever it takes to ensure our classrooms and special education services are fully staffed, and our students are getting the education they deserve.” Superintendent Cheryl Cotton said in a video statement that she could not comment directly on the report until it is officially released to the public. That will happen after the district and the union meet again to discuss whether report recommendations can help form a new agreement, Cotton said. Still, Cotton said she’s heard the frustrations employees have shared about pay, health care benefits, special education and staffing levels. “I am still clinging to hope that we can avoid a strike,” Cotton said Monday morning before the decision to strike was made. “As a parent, I know that our families are counting on us to resolve the issues and reach an agreement without interrupting our children’ s learning. As a former teacher, elementary school principal, deputy state superintendent and now your superintendent, I know our employees are dedicated, compassionate, and that they want to be at work serving students. It’s our goal to help make that happen.” Once a strike does go into effect, Cotton said all campuses will remain open, though some special education services could be reduced or suspended. AC Transit has not alerted the district to any changes in bus routes but have said bus drivers may choose to not pick up or drop off students at stops if unsafe due to the strike, Cotton said. Meals will be available for pickup for absent students and families can enroll their child in independent study if they choose to keep them home during the strike, Cotton added. “We know our children and families count on our schools to be open, count on the breakfast and lunch our schools serve everyday and count on a safe learning environment,” Cotton said. “Schools will be open and meals will be served.”Third attempt to repeal Prop. 19's tax burden on inherited property aims for 2026 ballotDear Abby: My podcast might cost me my marriageMiss Manners: Should I tell them their gift to me was an obvious fake?Award-winning pop star to sing national anthem at Super Bowl
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