Teachers strike averted in Fresno schools. District, union reach contract agreement
Fresno teachers and the school district reached a contract agreement, calling off a strike that would have disrupted the education of over 70,000 students in California’s third largest school district.
The agreement was announced Tuesday morning during a joint news conference at Fresno High School — less than 24 hours before an estimated 4,000 teachers were set to strike.
“We are incredibly pleased to announce that Fresno Unified School District and Fresno Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement that we’re signing right now,” said Superintendent Bob Nelson. He also thanked the district and union’s bargaining teams for an agreement that represents a joint commitment to avoiding a strike.
“This tentative agreement provides a wide array of benefits to our teachers and continues to maintain a fiscally strong budget for the district,” Nelson said, “and most importantly provides direct support to our students.”
Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teachers Association, called the deal “a historic agreement.”
Bonilla said the new contract includes progress on the four major union priorities: “across the board” class size reduction, reduced special education caseload, competitive pay for teachers and nurses, and continued and stable health coverage.
Additionally, Bonilla said the agreement includes investments in new classroom spaces, comprehensive special education caseload guidelines and “an actionable plan” to get a nurse at every school site, multi-million dollar investments in students’ social-emotional support and a competitive salary package.
“Our teachers return to the classroom tomorrow rather than standing on a picket line, knowing that we are charting a different course,” Bonilla said.
Bonilla said the union would host a members’ meeting Tuesday night and start voting on the tentative agreement Wednesday.
Fresno Unified spokesperson Nikki Henry if union members approve and ratify the agreement, the district would then ratify it likely at the Dec. 6 meeting.
Fresno district, union leaders celebrate contract
FTA executive director Louis Jamerson said this tentative agreement meets many goals he’s been told over the years could not happen, such as lifetime health benefits for educators and the thousands of district employees.
“Systems don’t change by virtue of a collective bargaining agreement; it’s a document,” Jamerson said. “Systems change when the people, who can make things happen, are committed and true to that journey.”
Fresno Unified Board President Genoveva Islas said
she was glad an agreement was reached in reducing class sizes — as well as for the other points — because when teachers are less stressed, students can have a better classroom experience.
“It’s something we have to be committed to in the long term,” she said, “and I’m glad we’re all in agreement in moving that forward. “
Trustee Susan Wittrup thanked both the FTA and Fresno Unified negotiation representatives for their work.
“You crafted a contract that makes sure we’re taking care of our teachers,” Wittrup said, “without jeopardizing the district financially in the years to come.”
Teacher strike vote
The district and union started negotiations last summer, but failed to reach an agreement before a Sept. 29 deadline.
Thousands of teachers turned out to vote earlier this month – with more than 3,450 teachers voting in favor to strike – saying that the strike was necessary for better pay and working conditions.
On Monday afternoon, the parties issued a joint statement saying they made “considerable progress” on a deal after a weekend of negotiations.
Some teachers said they had mixed feelings about a strike due to financial pressures of a strike or student learning loss, but ultimately wanted to send the district a message.
Union officials said that the last time they authorized a strike in 2017, the decision helped move negotiations along.
The last time Fresno teachers went on strike was in 1978.
This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 10:19 AM with the headline "Teachers strike averted in Fresno schools. District, union reach contract agreement."
