Teachers Push Back as SFUSD Faces Deep Cuts
SFUSD teachers voted 99.34% to authorize a strike on Wednesday, marking a step toward what could become the district’s first teacher walkout in nearly half a century. The vote was the first of two required, following nine months of stagnant negotiations at a time where the district faces a $113 million budget deficit. Educators are demanding pay increases, dependent healthcare coverage, special-education workload reforms, and stronger sanctuary school protections, while the district has proposed just a 2% raise paired with cuts to key benefits. A second strike vote could take place as early as January if no agreement is reached.
This vote reflects deep frustration among teachers who say they’ve felt the consequences of years of fiscal mismanagement while being asked to do more with less. For educators who already navigate overcrowded classrooms, rising healthcare costs, and the Bay Area housing crisis, the district’s offer to “generously” raise salaries while rolling back essential protections feels like a step backward. This strike is not just about wages but about protecting the stability of their classrooms, their students, and their profession.
Junyao Yang/Mission Local
By Junyao Yang | Mission Local | December 3, 2025
