SEIU union at Sacramento school district sets strike date

The union representing hundreds of workers in the Sacramento City Unified School District announced a two-day strike, after the union and district officials could not agree on child care, stipends and physical distancing guidelines. The Sacramento City Teachers Association pledged their support to join with a sympathy strike.

More than 90% of the 1,900 SEIU 1021 members voted to reject the district's proposal on how to safely return to campus, and set a date to strike on April 22 and April 23.

The strike date falls on the first day middle and high school students are returning to their campuses for the first time in more than a year. About 58% students in the district have returned or are returning to in-person instruction.

The union, which represents 150 classifications including bus drivers, custodians, food workers and technology support, plans to strike at all campuses in the morning and then meet for a larger rally at noon.

District officials said they believe the strike is inconsistent with labor law, as the district declared an impasse in negotiations with SEIU 1021 through the Public Employment Relations Board, saying it was unable to meet the demands set forth by the labor unit. PERB granted the district's request and moved both parties into mediation.

The union says they are striking because of an unfair labor practice, which they said took place when the district called an impasse.

"When you bargain, it's a give and take situation, and we were still in the process of doing that," said SEIU 2012 President Karla Faucett.

The district is asking SEIU to proceed with the mediation process, and in a statement to The Sacramento Bee "urged them not to block our students' right to an in-person education."