WCCUSD strike: Teachers frustrated district won't bargain until Tuesday but are hopeful
Source: Richmondside
The strike will continue Tuesday as district, teachers meet to finalize contract details.
by Jana Kadah and Zoe Harwood
Dec. 8, 2025, 11:09 a.m.Updated Dec. 9, 2025, 2:19 a.m.
While the United Teachers of Richmond and the West Contra Costa Unified School District are closer than ever to reaching an agreement, the strike will continue into a fourth day on Tuesday as the two sides hold another bargaining session.
At a rally at Richmond’s Civic Center on Monday, attended by more than 1,000 educators, students and supporters, some were optimistic, while others were frustrated at what they called delay tactics by the district.
The union had hoped to finalize a contract Sunday, after making considerable progress during a seven-hour bargaining meeting on Saturday. Over the weekend, the district had accepted a number of the union’s proposals, most notably on raises, moving from its initial 0% raise to offering a 7% raise over two years. UTR, initially requesting a 10% raise over two years, counteroffered with 9%.
But UTR members were frustrated that a negotiating meeting wasn’t scheduled for Sunday or Monday. Despite a nudge from state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond for the district to meet with UTR today, WCCUSD officials are sticking to their plan to meet Tuesday.
Teachers returned to the picket lines on Mon., Dec. 8, 2025, the third day of the strike. They're pictured at Lake Elementary in San Pablo. Fewer picketers were observed than in previous days, perhaps because the Teamsters were set to return to work Monday after reaching a tentative settlement with the district over the weekend. Credit: Joel Umanzor/Richmondside
Read more: https://richmondside.org/2025/12/08/wccusd-strike-teachers-back-on-picket-lines/