Historic San Francisco Teachers Strike: First Major Walkout Since 1970s

For the first time in five decades, thousands of educators in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) have officially walked off the job, initiating a historic strike that has shuttered schools across the city.

The industrial action, which began on Monday, follows months of stalled negotiations between the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) and the district. Teachers and staff are demanding significant wage increases to combat the city's skyrocketing cost of living, alongside improved classroom staffing levels and better mental health support for students.

A Half-Century Milestone The strike marks a critical turning point for the district, being the first large-scale walkout by San Francisco teachers since the mid-1970s. Protest lines formed early Monday morning at dozens of school sites, with educators carrying signs reading "Support Our Students, Pay Our Teachers" and "Education is a Right."

Union leaders emphasized that the strike was a "last resort" after the district failed to offer a contract that adequately addresses the high turnover rate among staff. "We cannot afford to live in the city where we teach," one veteran educator noted during a rally. "This strike is about the future of public education in San Francisco."

District Response and Impact School district officials expressed regret over the closure of schools, citing the significant disruption to thousands of families and students. While the district has offered a modest pay increase, it maintains that the union's full demands are unsustainable given current budget constraints.

As of Monday evening, no new talks have been scheduled, and the strike is expected to continue indefinitely until a tentative agreement is reached. Parents and community members have shown mixed reactions, though a large coalition of student groups has voiced support for their teachers' demands.