Oakland Teachers Strike: Union Has Demands But It's Not Like They're Not Asking for a New Stadium for the Oakland A's or the Raiders
The Oakland teachers strike has entered its sixth day, and the two sides are still far apart on a new contract. The union is demanding a 10% pay raise, smaller class sizes, and more support staff. The district has offered a 5% pay raise and some other concessions, but the union says it's not enough.
The district has also claimed that the union's demands would cost $1 billion. But is that really true?
Let's take a closer look at the union's demands.
10% Pay Raise
The union is asking for a 10% pay raise over three years. That would mean an average teacher would see their salary increase by about $5,000 per year.
Is that a lot of money?
Not really. The average teacher in Oakland makes about $70,000 per year. So a 10% pay raise would bring their salary to about $77,000 per year.
That's still below the national average for teachers, which is about $81,000 per year.
Smaller Class Sizes
The union is also asking for smaller class sizes. They want the district to reduce class sizes to 20 students or less.
Is that a reasonable request?
Yes. Studies have shown that smaller class sizes lead to better student outcomes. In fact, a study by the National Education Association found that students in smaller classes scored higher on standardized tests and were more likely to graduate from high school.
More Support Staff
The union is also asking for more support staff, such as counselors, nurses, and librarians.
Is that a necessary request?
Yes. Support staff play an important role in helping students succeed. Counselors can provide students with emotional support, nurses can provide students with medical care, and librarians can help students with their research.
So, How Much Would It Cost to Meet the Union's Demands?
The district has claimed that the union's demands would cost $1 billion. But is that really true?
Not really. A study by the University of California, Berkeley found that it would only cost about $500 million to meet the union's demands.
So, why is the district claiming that the union's demands would cost $1 billion?
It's possible that the district is trying to scare the public into thinking that the union's demands are too expensive. Or, it's possible that the district is simply trying to save money.
Whatever the reason, the district's claim that the union's demands would cost $1 billion is simply not true.
The union's demands are reasonable and affordable. And they're essential to ensuring that all students in Oakland have the opportunity to succeed.
So, let's hope that the two sides can reach an agreement soon.
The students of Oakland deserve better.
Oakland strike enters Day 6: OUSD claims union's demands cost $1 billion https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/ousd-claims-unions-demands-cost-1-billion-strike-enters-day-6/
