FREMONT — Fremont lecturers are inching nearer to a attainable strike after one other spherical of negotiations with the college district ended with out a new contract.
The Fremont Unified District Lecturers Affiliation and Fremont Unified Faculty District officers met Monday in a fact-finding session that stretched till 2 a.m. Tuesday, the union mentioned. After hours of dialogue, the 2 sides failed to achieve an settlement, because the union continues to demand extra aggressive wages, well being care contributions and smaller class sizes from the district.
Subsequent, a state mediator will subject a report with suggestions on the negotiations by April 15. The 2 events will meet inside 10 days of the report’s launch, after which a strike is legally allowed. As negotiators met contained in the union’s places of work on Monday after faculty, an estimated 1,500 lecturers and supporters picketed to display their risk of a strike, union leaders mentioned.
“Our members have made it clear that they are willing to strike for the schools their students deserve,” union president Vicky Chon mentioned in an announcement Tuesday morning. “We are disappointed that we couldn’t come to an agreement – but we stand united and firm on our commitment to do whatever it takes for our students.”
The union’s three-year contract expired in June 2024, they usually have been negotiating a brand new one for over a 12 months. An deadlock was declared in November 2024, and in February a fourth mediation try once more was unsuccessful.
Union leaders say the district should cut back classroom sizes and supply healthcare contributions and higher general compensation to assist retain educators within the district with over 30,000 college students. Since 1997, Fremont lecturers have paid their very own approach for medical and dental bills, in line with the district.
At present, Fremont lecturers could make a yearly wage of $83,000 to $144,000, primarily based on expertise, in line with the district’s newest pay schedule.
Larsen added that the district wouldn’t be capable to afford the third 12 months’s enhance, which he estimates would value over $40 million. He mentioned he hopes the 2 sides can attain an settlement “within the framework of our financial realities.”
“We deeply value our teachers and all of our staff, and we remain hopeful that an agreement can still be reached,” Larsen mentioned in an announcement Tuesday.
