'We love our students,' Twin Rivers teachers say as historic strike begins

Teachers in the Twin Rivers Unified School District walked off the job Thursday in the first strike in the district's history.

Over 1,000 teachers and supporters gathered outside the district offices in McClellan Park, shutting down the street with a sea of red and yellow signs reading "On strike for students" and "We can't wait."

Twin Rivers United Educators, the union representing roughly 1,400 teachers, counselors, nurses and other certificated staff, says it has been fighting for a fair contract since negotiations stalled more than a year ago. The union is seeking higher wages, fully paid family healthcare and smaller class sizes.

Union president Brittoni Ward addressed the crowd from atop a truck in the middle of Dudley Boulevard. She said teachers do not want to be on the picket line.

"We should be in the classroom with fully funded health care for our families, with competitive wages that recruit and retain and avoid these 83 vacancies we have," Ward said. "We love our students. We want to be in the classroom with our students."

Ward said the district has not moved meaningfully at the bargaining table.

"For over a year now we have been willing and ready and prepared to bargain in good faith," Ward told the crowd. "We tried that out again on Tuesday and you know what? They just fixed a typo."

The union is asking for a 7.5 percent raise and fully paid family healthcare. Members currently pay about $1,600 per month for family coverage, which the union says is equivalent to a housing payment.

The district says it has offered a 4.7 percent raise over two years and 100 percent employer-paid Kaiser HMO coverage for families, including medical, dental and vision. The district says the offer aligns with the recommendations of an independent fact-finder who reviewed both sides' proposals.

In a statement Thursday, district spokesperson Zenobia Gerald called on union leadership to return to negotiations.

"This strike did not have to happen, and it does not have to continue," Gerald wrote. "A fair, independently validated contract offer is on the table right now."

The district says it remains ready to sign a tentative agreement and is waiting on a counterproposal from union leadership.

Twin Rivers Unified serves about 25,000 students across 49 schools in Sacramento, North Highlands and Rio Linda. The vast majority of students, around 95 percent, are English learners, foster youth or eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Teachers say the strike is about more than pay. Drucilla Ramirez, a third grade dual immersion teacher at Madison Elementary and the union's organizing chair, said students need more support in the classroom.

"Our students deserve to have support in the classroom outside of just a single teacher," Ramirez said. "They deserve to have the resources to continue to help them academically, to reach all the standards that they need to reach, to thrive."

Ramirez said some classes have more than 30 students and teachers do not have aides in the classroom.

Students also showed up to support their teachers. Fourth grader Vanessa Perez took the stage at the rally to deliver a message to educators.

Fourth grader Vanessa Perez took the stage at the rally to deliver a message to educators.Greg Micek/CapRadio

"I really feel bad for all these teachers just having to work really long hours and putting their hard work and they're not getting paid enough and not getting what they want and what they deserve," Perez said in an interview after her speech. "I just felt like I needed to go talk out there."

In her remarks to the crowd, Perez told teachers that students see their hard work.

"You help us to keep going. You don't give up on us," she said. "Your students love you and we support you."

Schools remained open Thursday with substitutes, administrators and support staff supervising students. The district said transportation, meal programs and after-school activities ran on their normal schedules.

The district reminded parents that a teacher strike is not considered an excused absence under its attendance policy.

Ward said if the district does not return to the table with a meaningful proposal, teachers will continue picketing at school sites and hold another rally Friday.

"We will do this as many days as it takes," Ward said. "We're going to win this for our students and each other."