Fremont: Contract talks between teachers, district fail as possible strike looms

FREMONT Fremont teachers are inching closer to a realizable strike after another round of negotiations with the school district ended without a new contract The Fremont Unified District Teachers Association and Fremont Unified School District representatives met Monday in a fact-finding session that stretched until a m Tuesday the union declared After hours of discussion the two sides failed to reach an agreement as the union continues to demand more competitive wages wellness care contributions and smaller class sizes from the district Next a state mediator will issue a analysis with recommendations on the negotiations by April The two parties will meet within days of the overview s release and then a strike is legally allowed As negotiators met inside the union s offices on Monday after school an estimated teachers and supporters picketed to demonstrate their threat of a strike union leaders declared Our members have made it clear that they are willing to strike for the schools their students deserve union president Vicky Chon noted in a message Tuesday morning We are disappointed that we couldn t come to an agreement but we stand united and firm on our commitment to do whatever it takes for our students The union s three-year contract expired in June and they have been negotiating a new one for over a year An impasse was declared in November and in February a fourth mediation attempt again was unsuccessful Union leaders say the district must reduce classroom sizes and provide healthcare contributions and better overall compensation to help retain educators in the district with over students Since Fremont teachers have paid their own way for diagnostic and dental expenses according to the district District Superintendent Zack Larsen narrated this news organization that the union rejected an offer for a one time and a ongoing salary increase in December The union instead proposed a ongoing increase for this year for next year and the following year Larsen revealed At present Fremont teachers can make a yearly salary of to based on experience according to the district s latest pay schedule Larsen added that the district would not be able to afford the third year s increase which he estimates would cost over million He revealed he hopes the two sides can reach an agreement within the framework of our financial realities We deeply value our teachers and all of our staff and we remain hopeful that an agreement can still be reached Larsen commented in a declaration Tuesday