This story was updated at 6:39 a.m. to reflect the latest news.
The West Contra Costa Unified School District announced Sunday night that it has reached an agreement with the Teamsters and the union’s strike will be suspended immediately. The next bargaining session with the teachers union is Tuesday so the picketing will continue.
The tenative Teamsters contract, which must be ratified by members, calls for:
- Three-year contract
- 2025 — 3% ongoing permanent pay raise, retroactive to July 2025;
- 2026 — 4% ongoing permanent pay increase;
- 2027 — Negotiations on pay increases only, reopener.
- Medical benefits — all three years of the contract
- 100% paid Teamster medical benefits January 2026 for full-time employees (37.5 hours);
- 400 dollars cash per month for full-time members who waive health insurance’
- 200, 150 or 100 dollars cash for part time members who waive health care,
- Me too. If the other Unions get bigger raises we will get it.
- Plus many improvements to the contract and specific items that we have from the agreement we voted down.
“Tomorrow, we go back to work at our regular time with our heads held high. We hope to see everyone at the informational meetings in the near future,” a message on the Teamsters website Sunday said.
In an email sent at 5:39 a.m. Monday, the district said it is in the process of working with state fiscal experts to evaluate a counterproposal from the United Teachers of Richmond to its latest offer, which is similar to what is being offered to the Teamsters, with a 3% pay raise the first year and 4% the second year. The teachers have countered to ask for 5% the first year and 4% the second year, meaning they’re willing to accept less than their original request of a 10% salary increase.
“UTR and the District have been in communication over the weekend. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond is following our situation, and over the weekend, he urged the Parties to continue working toward a resolution that will end the strike. The District has invited UTR to continue negotiations on Tuesday, Dec. 9,” the district wrote.
In an email sent at 8 p.m. Sunday night, the union said it rally 11 a.m. at the Civic Center in Richmond, saying its counterproposal:
- Centers students and invests in school safety.
- Protects international educators.
- Increases Special Education paraprofessional support for the most vulnerable students.
- Provides fully funded healthcare to educators and their families.
- Secures fair compensation to recruit and retain the staff students deserve.
The district and teachers completed a marathon seven-hour negotiation session Saturday night. It said Saturday night that the proposed agreement from the district “breaks the cycle of disinvestment in our students and educators.”
It’s assumed that the teachers strike will continue Monday.
”Praying and crossing our fingers that: the agreement comes together soon, then it gets approved,” wrote teacher Grace Ollerenshaw on Facebook.
The teachers union is asking for 10% raise; the last publicly announced district offer before the strike was 3% — less than the 6% raise proposed by a state mediator. Teamsters members refused to ratify a proposed 3% raise that their leadership had tentatively agreed to.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This is more game playing from district leadership.
Get Teamsters back to work while delaying meeting with UTR until later in the week to exert pressure on the teachers to capitulate.
Hopefully the school board reins this in quickly.
We don’t want to go back. Thank you!
This article needs to be updated to reflect the fact that the District refused to meet with UTR on Sunday, which is egregious. The teacher’s strike continuing today is 100% on the District.