Historic Teachers Strike Hits San Francisco Schools

Tue Feb 10 2026 00:54:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Thousands of public school teachers in San Francisco engage in a historic strike, the first in nearly 50 years, over wage increases and health benefits amidst rising living costs.

The San Francisco Unified School District has closed all its schools after teachers initiated a strike due to unmet demands for better wages and health benefits. With escalating costs impacting educators, union leaders seek resolution while the district insists on a budget that faces significant challenges.

SAN FRANCISCO (FlashPoint) — On Monday, thousands of public school teachers in San Francisco commenced a strike, marking the first walkout in the city in nearly five decades.

This unprecedented strike follows unsuccessful negotiations between the teachers' union and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) over critical issues, including higher pay, improved health benefits, and additional resources for special needs students. As a result of the strike, SFUSD has shuttered its 120 schools, shifting approximately 50,000 students to independent study alternatives.

We are facing an affordability crisis, stated Cassondra Curiel, president of the United Educators of San Francisco, highlighting the hefty family healthcare premiums of around $1,500. Curiel expressed the urgency of the situation, declaring, This week, we said enough is enough.

Union representatives took to the picket lines after last-minute attempts to negotiate a new contract over the weekend ended in vain. Local politicians, including Mayor Daniel Lurie and Democratic U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi, had urged both sides to continue discussions instead of closing schools.

Planned events included a news conference by union leaders on Monday morning and a rally at San Francisco City Hall in the afternoon. Negotiations between the district and the union were set to resume shortly thereafter.

The ongoing negotiations have persisted for nearly a year, with teachers advocating for fully funded family healthcare, salary increases, and the employment of additional staff to better accommodate students with special educational needs.

The district countered the union's request for a 9% wage increase over two years with an offer of a 6% raise spread across three years, citing significant financial constraints, including a $100 million deficit. The district's current proposal also included potential bonuses for employees if a surplus arises by the 2027-28 school year.

As the situation unfolds, both the city and district face pressure to find common ground to support educators and students amid a background of increasing financial distress.