Twin Rivers teachers set to strike next week if no deal reached

The Abridged version:

• Twin Rivers teachers could begin a strike as soon as next Thursday, March 5, union leaders announced Tuesday.
• The district and union have a final scheduled meeting Wednesday. If that round of negotiations does not produce an agreement by early next week, educators will move forward with the planned strike.
• School board members recently approved emergency protocols to try to keep schools open in the event of a strike. They include employing substitutes for up to $600 a day.
• Twin Rivers Unified is one of three local school districts that face the threat of a teacher strike.

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Teachers at Twin Rivers Unified School District on Tuesday said they would strike next week if negotiations with the district fail.

It would be the first teacher strike in the district’s two-decade history.

Leaders from the district’s union, Twin Rivers United Educators, announced the March 5 potential strike amid a rally at the administration building Tuesday.

The union and the district are heading into a final scheduled meeting Wednesday. Both sides are presenting their case to a neutral third party, who will produce a summary report and recommendations.

The report is expected March 2.

If there is still no agreement after that, teachers in Twin Rivers are prepared to go on strike starting March 5.

Will schools close?

The Twin Rivers school board last week approved a set of procedures to follow in the event of a work stoppage.

Those protocols include allowing Superintendent Steve Martinez — who during last week’s board meeting announced his upcoming retirement — to close or reduce operations at schools during a strike.

A strike and any ensuing school closures would disrupt families of approximately 25,000 Twin Rivers students, almost 90% of whom qualify for free or reduced-price meals, according to state Department of Education data.

In an effort to keep schools open, Martinez and leaders could employ substitutes for striking teachers at rates up to $600 a day. The substitutes may also be reimbursed for a commute longer than 15 miles and for any fees that come with getting credentialed.

Union head blasts substitute plan

Brittoni Ward, president of the teachers’ union, condemned the board’s decision, calling the emergency resolution a distraction from ongoing negotiations.

“These educators are here sacrificing another night to prioritize settling this contract in order to avert a strike,” she said, gesturing to more than a dozen union members standing behind her.

“But clearly, that is not the priority of the district,” Ward continued. “Steve Martinez’s priority instead is to call a special board meeting that would bring scabs to cross picket lines anticipating and preparing for a looming strike instead of meeting our members at the table to avoid one.”

Martinez said last week’s emergency vote was necessary to ensure essential school services can continue.

“Based on our current planning, schools are expected to remain open and students should report to campus unless families are notified otherwise,” he said in a statement to Abridged.

“While we are disappointed, TRUE’s announcement was expected and in alignment with the statewide initiative,” Martinez said.

Teachers in other districts may follow suit

Twin Rivers is not the only school district in the Sacramento area facing the growing pressure of a possible teacher strike.

Negotiations are ongoing at Natomas Unified and Washington Unified in West Sacramento.

Both districts recently entered the “fact-finding stage” — the same round of negotiations that Twin Rivers Unified is wrapping up and that proceeds a possible strike.

Teachers in Natomas and West Sacramento have voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes, in the event that agreements are not reached.

Many of their demands — higher pay, smaller class sizes and fully paid health benefits — echo that of Twin Rivers and teacher unions across the state. Labor groups from more than 30 districts in California have coalesced under a campaign by the California Teachers Association.

“Our students deserve experienced, dedicated educators who are able to spend their careers in West Sacramento,” West Sacramento Teachers Association President Douglas Knepp said in a statement. “We will not give up until we win that stability for our students.”

Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.