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Dublin teachers on strike Monday after negotiations fail
The teachers union went on strike Monday, after the two sides fail to agree on pay, healthcare and classroom support.
DUBLIN, Calif. - After three days of negotiations, the Dublin Teachers Association were on the picket lines Monday morning.
The Dublin Teachers Association said there is no date set to return to the bargaining table as of Monday afternoon.
This is the first strike in the Dublin Unified School District, according to the union.
Dublin teachers on strike
Teachers carried signs and marched outside Dublin Unified's 13 schools Monday morning, singing and chanting their demands.
That followed a Sunday night post on Instagram from the union that read: "DUSD Management, this strike is on you! Reprioritize your budget to invest in our students!"
District disappointed
On Sunday, district leaders say they had hoped to reach an agreement.
"We are disappointed that we were not able to reach an agreement with the Dublin Teachers Association. We've been at it for the past three days trying to seek resolution and compromise," said Matt Campbell, assistant superintendent of educational services for the district.
The district said on Sunday they were prepared to sign the compromised solution recommended by the neutral Fact Finder.
Salary increase, smaller classes
The union says its proposals include a 3.5% salary increase, expanded healthcare coverage and smaller classes, including a cap of 20 students for transitional kindergarten. The union is also calling for a full-time counselor at every elementary school.
Late Sunday, union leaders posted another update on Instagram as negotiations continued.
"You are probably going to receive an email soon from them with an astronomical cost attached to our lowered bargaining proposals from today. The phone conversation ended with us asking them to please contact us if they have an actual counter proposal to discuss tonight," said Monica Lewis, bargaining chair for the Dublin Teachers Association in an Instagram update Sunday night.
The district says its current offer matches recommendations from an independent fact-finding chair, including about a 2% salary increase and a 1% one-time payment.
Union pesident Brad Dobreznski said the deal presented by the fact-finder did not address class sizes nor students with exceptional needs.
Cost of strike, salaries
District officials estimate the union's proposal would cost just over $11 million over three years, while the union’s counterproposal would cost about $32 million and could force cuts to programs, staffing and services.
"We definitely don't want this," Campbell said. "To answer your question, yes we are prepared for it, we have been preparing in case this worse case scenario happens. We want our students to come tomorrow. The students will continue to learn, we're going to have activities for them," Campbell said.
School sites will remain open Monday on an adjusted schedule as the strike begins. Both sides say they remain willing to continue negotiations.
Parents join strike
Many parents joined the picket lines on Monday morning.
KTVU spoke with Lorie Bruland who decided to keep her kids out of the classroom and take them out to the picket lines instead.
"I'm very disappointed in the school board I feel like the teachers are being reasonable. I know it’s a hard time financially but we have to put the students first," said Bruland.
Parent Max Serna was walking his third-grader to school while trying to explain why her teacher wouldn't be in the classroom today.
" Kids don’t really understand it but it’s good that they see it hopefully it will strike it in them like how does this effect me I think it’s definitely a step they have to take, I'm for it," said Serna.