Sacramento, CA – The following are answers to frequently asked questions about the current labor negotiations between the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) and the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA).

LATEST DISTRICT PROPOSALS

Q. Has the district changed its proposal to SCTA during the course of negotiations?

A. Yes, the district has significantly enhanced its proposal to increase compensation for SCTA-represented employees. The district has sent updated counterproposals to SCTA that have enhanced the proposed compensation for SCTA-represented employees. The current offer to SCTA brings the total increase offered to employees to 9.65% through a combination of one-time stipends and an ongoing salary increase. You can read the district’s latest proposals to SCTA at:

District proposal, March 28: Successor Contract

District proposal, March 28: Substitute Pay & Extra Work 2021-2022 School Year

 Here is an overview of the district’s proposal to SCTA as of Monday, March 28:

Q. Since the district and SCTA are negotiating, why won’t the district call off the strike?

A. The district cannot force SCTA and SEIU to suspend the strike.  Negotiators are making progress at the bargaining table by passing and discussing proposals made by the district and SCTA, and, separately, by the district and SEIU. Union leaders for SCTA and SEIU leaders called this strike and they are the only ones who can call it off.

INCREASING PAY FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Q. Why does SCUSD have a shortage of substitute teachers?

A. There are workforce shortages in many industries and that is especially true in education. The pool of qualified substitutes in our area is not sufficient to meet the demand from all school districts in our region. Most districts are increasing pay to attract more qualified people to serve as substitutes. SCUSD is trying to reach an agreement with SCTA that will allow the district to increase pay for substitute teachers. 

Q. Why can’t the district just go ahead and pay substitute teachers more money, or offer substitutes a bonus?

A.  Substitute teachers are also represented by SCTA. Any change in pay must be negotiated with SCTA. The district cannot change the pay for substitute teachers or offer recruitment bonuses to substitute teachers without a negotiated agreement with SCTA.

The district is trying to reach an agreement with SCTA to increase pay for substitute teachers in the current negotiations.

Q. Has the District offered to increase pay for substitute teachers?

A: Yes. In its proposal to SCTA, the district has offered to increase the daily pay rate by 25% for substitutes who filled in for absent teachers during the 2021-22 school year. The district’s proposal to increase pay for substitutes has been on the table the entire year, and remains in the proposal that the district has offered to SCTA. Please see: District proposal, March 28: Substitute Pay & Extra Work 2021-2022 School Year.

Q. Are substitute teachers represented by teacher unions in other districts?

A. No. SCUSD is unique in this regard. Our district is the one of the only districts in the region in which substitute teachers are represented by a union. Substitute teachers are NOT represented by a union in Elk Grove, Twin Rivers, Folsom Cordova, Natomas, San Juan, Davis, and Washington Unified School Districts, among others.

###