In a significant development regarding labor negotiations, the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) recently concluded agreements with its four principal labor unions at the end of the previous year. After extended discussions, the unions and the district resolved their contracts for the 2022-2023 period, ensuring all involved parties were awarded the state-mandated minimum cost of living adjustment of 8.22%.
Under the leadership of interim superintendent Lisa Allen and a rejuvenated school board, the district saw a much-needed transformation in the approach towards union contracts. SCUSD’s negotiations were at the forefront of tumultuous relations with the district’s labor partners, most notably resulting in a strike by the Sacramento City Teachers Association and the SEIU Local 1021 in the spring of 2022.
SCUSD has now successfully reached settlements with its labor partners that have been described as historic and unprecedented. This shift in negotiations has come with the 2023-24 budget accommodating retroactive raises to compensate for the delayed contract agreements.
SEIU Local 1021, representing 1,800 members including instructional aides, custodians, bus drivers, and other pivotal staff, confirmed an agreement that includes a minimum wage increment from $15 to $18 per hour starting July 1, 2022, which will further rise to $20 per hour from July 1, 2024. In addition, SEIU Local 1021 members are set to receive an ongoing 10% salary increase, retroactive to July 2022, with an additional 6% for certain positions.
The United Professional Educators (UPE), which represents education professionals such as principals and assistant principals, settled on a 10% salary uplift effective July 1, 2022, plus an additional 6% for principals and assistant principals. These salary adjustments are pivotal in maintaining competitiveness, particularly given comparison with neighboring districts such as Elk Grove Unified School District, where principal salaries commence at a higher base.
Similarly, Teamsters Local 150 and the Teamsters Classified Supervisors aligned their contracts with the district to accommodate salary increases that reflect the heightened cost of living—specifically a 10% ongoing pay raise for all members, retroactive to July 1, 2022, and an extra 6% bump in salary for challenging-to-fill positions.
On the educators’ front, the SCTA obtained a 10% salary hike, backdated to July 2022, with an added 6% increase curated for key service providers such as special education teachers and school nurses. Despite reaching a tentative accord on teacher transfer requests, lingering issues on staffing and wages are expected to be tackled in forthcoming bargaining sessions.
Although budget concerns about the district’s cash reserves within two years were raised during a recent board meeting, school board vice president Jasjit Singh conveyed an optimistic outlook, emphasizing that flexibility in budgeting remains a key to adapting to changing circumstances. He stressed the importance of not only increasing salaries but also fostering supportive, diverse, and equitable environments conducive to positive educational outcomes.
The labor contract resolutions of the past year signify a move towards improved working conditions, remuneration, and the prospects of functional negotiations for future contracts. Meanwhile, the Sacramento City Unified School District is set to focus on new challenges and negotiations for the upcoming 2023-24 contracts.
As SCUSD embarks on a new year of negotiations and strategic planning, the implications of these union agreements will hold significant importance in the recruitment and retention of skilled staff, balancing budgets, and ultimately shaping the quality of education within the district.
