A union representing custodians, secretaries and other San Francisco public school support staff reached a tentative contract agreement with the district this week, averting a possible strike if it’s approved by employees.
The bargaining teams for Service Employees International Union Local 1021 and the San Francisco Unified School District struck the deal Tuesday and union officials called it a “game-changing contract.”
The agreement provides a 16 percent pay hike, including a 6 percent retroactive raise to last July and a 10 percent retroactive raise to July 2023.
It also includes language for health and safety improvements, worker input into the district’s plans to build affordable housing for employees and a one-time $1,500 bonus, according to the union.
“This historic raise ensures our chapter members are on a path to a brighter future thanks to fair wages, job protection, and language to protect us from being exploited or abused on the job,” said SEIU 1021 vice president Antonae Robertson, a senior clerk at SFUSD.
“This historic raise ensures our chapter members are on a path to a brighter future thanks to fair wages, job protection, and language to protect us from being exploited or abused on the job.” Antonae Robertson, SEIU 1021 vice president
The union, which represents roughly 1,000 classified workers like food service employees, paraeducators and custodians, has been in contract talks with the district for a year and was pushing for salaries that match what similar workers make at the city of San Francisco.
The union has not yet set a date for a membership vote on the tentative agreement, which will also have to be approved by the school district’s Board of Education.
“We’re pleased to reach a tentative agreement with our labor partners,” said SFUSD Superintendent Matt Wayne. “Service workers are essential to making our schools work for kids, and this agreement reflects our collective commitment to valuing the integral roles they hold in our school communities.”
Teachers’ union still in talks
Despite the progress made at the bargaining table, however, SEIU leadership said that if the district’s teachers go on strike, its members will honor the picket lines.
The teachers’ union, United Educators of San Francisco, voted last week to approve calling a strike vote amid their own contract talks with the district. The next step would be another membership vote allowing union leadership to call a strike before a walkout date can be set.
Meanwhile, a group of more than 1,000 parents and guardians submitted a petition in support of the teachers and other employees to the Board of Education, the Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the city’s state assemblymembers, Phil Ting and Matt Haney.
“In one of the wealthiest cities in the world, our students are not receiving the support and academic resources they need and deserve,” the petition reads in part. “Staff shortages fueled by low salaries and the broken payroll system mean that our teachers and other staff are working harder than ever, going beyond their responsibilities to fill gaps left by the unsustainable crisis our city’s schools are in.”