Taking a stand for the education all Sacramento students deserve, the 2,500 members of Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) went on strike this morning.

Joined by members of SEIU 1021, which represents Sacramento City Unified School District’s education support professionals, SCTA went on strike after negotiations broke off yesterday. Despite SCTA’s willingness and availability to work to avert a strike, SCUSD management seemed unconcerned and uninterested in even trying, repeatedly flouting the negotiations process and showing disrespect for educators, students and the Sac City community.

SCTA President David Fisher at the Day 1 morning press event

Educators, families and supporters packed picket lines at SCUSD schools starting at 7 a.m. SCTA held a morning press conference, broadcast live on Facebook, featuring speeches from SCTA President David Fisher, CTA President E. Toby Boyd and NEA Vice President Princess Moss.

“I am so proud to join Sacramento educators, support professionals and community on the picket line today, and bring solidarity and strength that’s 3 million educators strong to our brave SCTA family on strike for the supports their students need and deserve,” said Moss.

CTA President E. Toby Boyd and NEA Vice President Princess Moss

SCUSD closed schools today and students and their parents took the opportunity to show their support for the educators and school staff who support them every day. McClatchy High School student Phoenix Leary said that she and her peers are ready to fight for their educators.

“Teachers have put their students first every single day that I have been here,” Leary said.

Sac City Unified officials continue to fail their students and community by refusing to address a staffing crisis that has left 3,000 to 5,000 students warehoused in auditoriums or forced to double- and triple-up in classrooms every day, due to a lack of staffing. More than 10,000 students do not have a permanent teacher, every day. SCUSD is short 250 teachers, more than 100 substitute teachers and 400 essential school staff. Nearly 600 students who have applied for independent study because they are unable to attend school in-person, receive no instruction at all.

CTA President E. Toby Boyd walked picket lines with Sac City educators today, bringing the power, love and support of 310,000 CTA members. He was joined by CTA Vice President David Goldberg, members of the CTA Board of Directors and educators from other CTA locals, including members of Rohnert Park Cotati Educators Association who recently won a fair contract after a six-day strike.

The day culminated in a massive midday rally at the district office. Picket lines start at all SCUSD schools tomorrow at 7 a.m., followed by a midday picket and rally at Sacramento Office of Education. More photos and video from today’s events located at the SCTA and CTA Facebook pages.

Keep up with the Sac City educators strike!

Follow SCTA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news and information, and visit their website at www.sacteachers.org. A strike fund has also been set up to provide financial support for educators struggling to make ends meet while on the picket line. Please consider donating and sharing with your network.

Featured photo by Larry Ferlazzo