West Contra Costa Unified educators strike, demanding fair pay and support
West Contra Costa Unified educators and supporters picket outside El Cerrito High School on Dec. 4, 2025.
Credit: Michelle Quinn / EdSource
Educators in the West Contra Costa Unified School District went on strike on Thursday, demanding higher wages, support for international teachers on H-1B visas and teacher retention, among other issues.
The district employs 1,400 educators, all of whom are on strike after 10 months of negotiations, across dozens of schools. This marks the first teachers strike of the school year in California and the first in the history of the 29,000-student district.
Francisco Ortiz, president of United Teachers of Richmond, which represents teachers, librarians, counselors and other credentialed staff on strike, spoke in front of a crowd of supporters during a news conference held Thursday morning at El Cerrito High School.
“When school workers walk out, it’s not because we want to. It is because our students cannot wait one more year, not one more month, not one more day,” he said. “We are united in demanding fair pay that keeps the people who care for our students right here in West County, full staffing that ends the churn and restores consistency in the classroom, dignity and respect for every worker.”
Jessy Kronenberg, a teacher at El Cerrito High School, said that the Bay Area is too expensive to live on a teacher’s salary and that she is striking so that all schools in the district can continue to offer quality education to students.
Martine Castillo, a Spanish teacher at the same high school, was also present at the rally and called for better working conditions, smaller classrooms, and more support for special education.
Teachers were joined on the picket line by members of Teamsters Local Union 856. Representing food service and clerical workers, and full-time aides supporting special education students, the Teamsters voted against the agreement reached last week by a 52.8% margin. It called for a 3% wage increase during the current school year, reopening negotiations regarding future possible increases, and boosting health benefits.
The district announced that schools will remain open, meals will continue to be served, and students can also enroll in short-term independent study.
Superintendent Cheryl Cotton said in a statement released Thursday morning that the district has reached out to the teachers union.
“We are serious about getting this matter resolved,” Cotton said. “We acknowledge that our employees deserve salary and benefits increases, and we want a resolution, but this cannot happen while we are on strike and not at the negotiations table.”
The strike is expected to continue until an agreement is reached.
Executive Editor Michelle Quinn contributed to this report.
