Yuba City Teachers Striking Amid Longstanding Pay Dispute
YUBA CITY (CBS13) — Yuba City teachers are beginning their strike over a longstanding pay dispute on Thursday.
At the heart of the issue is teacher pay. The Yuba City Teachers Association found teachers in its district were making nearly $20,000 less a year than teachers in Sacramento—a 33 percent pay discrepancy. The Yuba City Unified School District has offered a 3.5 percent raise, but the teachers association is asking for 13 percent.
Teachers are standing united in front of Yuba City High School as teachers across the district are on strike pic.twitter.com/OnkpV3jNPO
— Sean Bennett (@tvseanb) September 8, 2016
Superintendent Nancy Aaberg says the district has made six offers and all have been rejected.
Around 700 teachers are expected to be out of the classroom on Thursday.
The school district reportedly locked teachers out of their email and student information systems on Wednesday night in advance of the strike.
"I have taught in this district for 21 years, and the changes have been unbelievable," said Butte Vista Elementary teacher Sylvia Hook. "I used to feel respected by my employer. I do not."
Parents have told CBS13 they're supportive of the teachers' strike, but hoped it wouldn't have come to this.