The Facts

On Tuesday night, union representatives walked away from the bargaining table without reviewing the school district's latest offer, reports Jill Tucker at the San Francisco Chronicle. The strike continued into a third day on February 11th, keeping schools closed for nearly 50,000 students.

Meanwhile, union leadership promoted a mid-day Ocean Beach photo shoot to spell “STRIKE FOR OUR STUDENTS,” and on Tuesday filed for an event permit for a strike rally on Thursday.

The Context

The district does not have the budget to meet the union’s demands, which include a 9% raise over two years and fully funded dependent health benefits. The district cannot legally agree to these demands, and the union has not offered any alternative proposals that would be financially feasible.

The district says its package includes a 6% raise over three years and will pay for 80% of the cost of dependent health coverage. Union leaders are demanding zero-cost dependent health coverage, which is an unusually substantial benefit for large employers. According to a 2025 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average family premium is $26,993, and the average worker contribution is $6,850 (about 26% of plan cost). Even when just looking at coverage for an individual, just 7% of covered workers at large firms are in plans where the employer pays the entire premium.

An independent fact-finding report concluded UESF’s proposal (9% over two years plus fully funded dependent health benefits) isn’t “budget-neutral,” amid what KQED called years of overspending.

The disruption is immediate: the Associated Press described parents scrambling for child care and meals as campuses stayed shut.

The GrowSF Take

Teachers should obviously be paid fairly, and the district should work to find a solution that meets the needs of both educators and families.

But that's not possible if union leadership refuses to even review the district's offer, which includes a significant raise and improved health benefits. The union's decision to walk out of negotiations without engaging in good faith discussions is irresponsible and harms the very students they claim to be advocating for.

When negotiations turn into a public-relations campaign, students lose learning time, parents lose work time, and trust collapses. UESF should get back in the room, stay there, and close a deal San Francisco can actually afford.