Fresno Unified, FTA making 'considerable progress' on contract negotiations as strike nears

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Negotiations are continuing into Monday evening as Fresno Unified teachers and administrators work to avoid a strike that's scheduled to start Wednesday.

On Monday, Fresno Unified and the Fresno Teachers Association announced that negotiators had spent countless hours over the past couple of days trying to reach a contract agreement.

In a joint statement, the district and the union wrote:

"With a strike on the horizon, negotiators representing district administration and teachers have spent countless hours over the past weekend making considerable progress to address contract terms. Both sides are continuing to work through this evening and remain optimistic about continued progress."

Both sides are planning a joint press conference to share more updates at 10 am Tuesday.

The update comes as thousands of teachers prepare for a Wednesday strike.

Union teachers are at odds with the district over wages, class sizes, and educator health funds.

"It's a message to district leadership that they need to stop prioritizing everything else outside the classroom. Prioritize the classroom first, and I believe it's in alignment with what the community wants," FTA President Manuel Bonilla told Action News in a previous interview.

Fresno Unified has previously said it made a generous offer that is still fiscally responsible for the future.

The district's latest public proposal includes a 19% pay increase over the three-year contract, which would raise the average teacher's salary to more than $100,000 per year.

The union says it's the starting and ending salaries that matter, and right now, new educators make just over $56,000 per year.

The two sides also can't agree on the teachers' health fund.

Bonilla says Fresno Unified wants to cut the fund to cover the pay raises.

However, the district says it's not cutting benefits, and they would actually increase next year.

FTA members voted to authorize a strike early last week.

If the two groups can't come to an agreement by Wednesday, union members say they're ready to leave their classrooms for picket lines.

Joyce Braun is a former Sanger elementary teacher and told Action News a strike could hurt children.

"I hated that they have to strike because that would be a really hard decision for a teacher because we want to do what's best for children. And yet, you can't work constantly without what you need," said Braun.

If a strike happens, Fresno Unified says it can't predict how long it will last.

The district has said schools would remain open the entire time.

To continue staffing 106 campuses, Fresno Unified has recruited hundreds of substitutes.

They'll earn $500 per day and the union that represents substitutes says its members have not voted for a sympathy strike.

Instead, members of the Fresno Area Substitute Teachers Association voted to stand in solidarity with the striking teachers.

"We know this is not quite ideal, but a lot better than closing our schools. Class sizes might be a little bit larger depending on what attendance is. Also, you're going to see teachers picketing, chanting with signs at pickup and drop off," said Fresno Unified Chief Communications Officer Nikki Henry in a previous interview.

It's unclear what the teachers union and school district could announce on Tuesday morning.

The statement and the press conference are the first signs of progress as a strike looms.

Stay with Action News for the latest updates on this developing story.

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