For the first time in nearly 50 years, the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) is on strike. More than 6,500 teachers, para-educators, counselors and other workers set up picket lines instead of classrooms on Monday. The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) comprises over 50,000 students across 111 schools. While the workers’ demand for language regarding sanctuary from ICE in schools has been agreed to, the demands for better pay, inclusion of families on healthcare plans, and the hiring of more para-educators with better conditions are being stonewalled by the school district, citing a lack of funds.
How is it that in one of the wealthiest cities in the wealthiest country in the world, we can’t afford to pay our world-class educators a decent salary? That in the worlds’ 5th largest economy in the state of California, we simply cannot afford to include teachers’ families on their health insurance, forcing most teachers to spend 40% of their income on healthcare costs? San Francisco has certainly had no issue finding the funds to hire hundreds of new police officers, a move that will cost many hundreds of millions of dollars, not least because police officers are paid much better than teachers.
This strike has just begun. The last time San Francisco teachers went on strike, schools stayed closed for more than 6 weeks. We must show that as a community, we have our teachers’ backs! Pickets are being organized at schools across the city. You can find ways to support the strike and find a picket near you here: https://wecantwait.info/parents/uesf#step-3.
Even if you’re not a parent or a student involved in the strike, it’s up to all of us to show solidarity with our teachers; they’re striking for the future of education in our society! They’re striking for all of us!
