Tentative agreement reached to end West Contra Costa teachers strike

RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) — The West Contra Costa County teacher strike is now officially over.

After a marathon 12-hour negotiation session, the teachers’ union and the school district reached a tentative agreement at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The agreement came after a four-day strike and 10 months of bargaining.

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The teachers’ union said that more than 98% of its members had authorized the strike and have been on the picket lines. That’s about 1,500 teachers across 56 schools.

The teachers were demanding a 10% pay increase over two years and better benefits. They also have concerns over staffing.

Now, the California Teachers Association says that the new tentative agreement includes raises that total 8% over two years.

There are additional wage increases for special education teachers and hiring bonuses.

There’s also an increase to a 100% employer-paid family health care benefit that would take effect by June 30th in 2027.

Also in the deal are protections for international teachers, including a pathway to permanent residency for educators who are able to get clear credentials.

Under the new tentative agreement, International Academy Class sizes would also be capped at 25, and the District’s commitment to safer classrooms.

The agreement still has to be ratified by the teachers’ union and the school board.

“This fight was not just about our contract; it was a battle for the future of public education,” said union president Francisco Ortiz in a press release. “At a time when there are ongoing attacks on our profession and our communities, we stood strong because we refuse to let our students suffer in under-resourced classrooms.”

Because negotiations went so far into the morning, classes won’t be back to normal until Thursday.