Agreement!

UTR President Francisco Ortiz on Dec. 9 outside Alvarado School

Negotiators for the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) and the United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) signed a tentative agreement at 2 a.m. today. UTR immediately suspended its strike, which had started Dec. 5 and lasted four school days.

Teachers will be paid to return to their classrooms today to prepare for teaching-as-usual starting Thursday (Dec. 11).

The agreement comes just in time to avoid cancellation of some holiday events in El Cerrito.

Teachers at a Dec. 9 rally were ready for the holidays.

Korematsu Sing-Along

The Winter Holiday Sing-Along will take place at Korematsu Middle School on Thursday evening, Madera Principal David Ranch said this morning after last-minute calls to make it work. Taco trucks will be there starting at 5 p.m. The Sing-Along is from 6:30 to 7:30.

EC High School Dance Concert

The El Cerrito High School Winter Dance Concert will take place Friday and Saturday nights in the Performing Arts Theater. Performances start at 7 p.m. Jessy Kronenberg, the dance teacher, said at Tuesday night’s rally that students had taken it upon themselves to rehearse at local dance studios. With the strike ended, they can rehearse in the theater.

Both Parties Announced Agreement

UTR President Francisco Ortiz announced the tentative agreement with the district in a 2 a.m. news release. The district confirmed it in a brief news release later this morning.

A Win For Public Education

Ortiz wrote:

“It’s after 2 a.m. on Wednesday. Finally, after a 12-hour session, 10 long months at the bargaining table, a historic first-ever strike, we have reached a deal. We are proud to announce a tentative agreement with the district that honors the immense sacrifices of our teachers, students, and parents.”

“This fight was not just about our contract; it was a battle for the future of public education,” he said. "It was OUR COLLECTIVE POWER that forced the District back to the table and paved the way for an agreement that lays a foundation for the safe and stable schools our students deserve.

Votes to Ratify Coming Up

The tentative agreement is still subject to a vote by UTR members. On Wednesday, the union was at work on preparations for that. It also must be formally ratified by the school board, although the terms were based upon direction from the board.

Salary and Benefits

It calls for an 8% salary increase for teachers spread over two years along with much better health benefits, including 100% paid family health care by June 30, 2027.

WCCUSD had offered a 0% raise until early October, when it offered 2%. A factfinder’s report in November said the district should offer teachers a 6% raise over two years. After a required waiting period ended, UTR went on strike Dec. 5.

Fixing Special Ed and Teacher Turnover

Ortiz said the agreement lays the groundwork for a better school district because it addresses critical problems including special education costs that doubled over five years and high rates of teacher turnover and teacher vacancies.

Provisions include:

• An increase to the special education educators’ salary schedule intended to end the District’s reliance on independent contractors and hire permanent in-person educators to support the most vulnerable students.

• Retention bonuses paid out after three years of employment to newly hired educators who are also graduates of WCCUSD. This bonus should build stability in classrooms by building capacity from within.

• Retention bonuses to attract and retain new special education (SPED) teachers into the special education department and stabilize SPED programming.

• Protections for international teachers that include district-sponsored pathways to permanent residency for educators who obtain clear credentials, as well as support for newly arrived educators.

“We Are Relieved”

WCCUSD’s news release said details of the agreement will be “forthcoming.”

It concluded: “We are relieved that the strike is over and our students and teachers will be reunited in the classroom on Thursday.”

Daniel Cervantes (left) prints posters for teachers Dec. 9 with help from Victor Zaragoza.