Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) Executive Director John Borsos joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how an eight-day strike in late March 2022 by the union over teacher shortages led to the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) to face up to $47 million in fines because it could not make up the lost days.
The strike focused on a staffing shortage, as roughly 10,000 students were without a permanent teacher and 3,000 other students did not have a substitute teacher, Borsos said. After a parent-led sit-in outside the dean’s office, the SCTA and the classified employee union SEIU Local 1021 reached tentative agreements with SCUSD.
Borsos explained the district received COVID relief money but needed to meet certain attendance requirements to use it or face a fine. The Unions sought to negotiate with the district to extend the school calendar and make up the days, but the district rejected the proposals.
Once the strike was settled, the SCUSD was fined $47 million by the State Board of Education. The district has announced it plans to seek a waiver from the State Board of Education to reduce the penalty on the condition it makes up the lost instructional time over a two-year period.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about how Colorado has set higher apprenticeship standards.