San Francisco teachers union, district continue contract talks to avoid strike

Schools closed Monday as negotiations stretch on over wages and healthcare

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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San Francisco Unified School District officials and the union representing roughly 6,000 educators were locked in negotiations on Saturday in an effort to avert a strike that could disrupt learning for tens of thousands of students across the city. The district announced that schools would be closed on Monday, prompting families to scramble for childcare and alternative plans. Many parents expressed hope that the two sides could reach an agreement and avoid a strike altogether, but a prolonged impasse would pose significant challenges for families.

Why it matters

A teachers' strike in San Francisco would have major impacts on students, families, and the broader community. Ensuring students can continue their education without disruption is a top priority, while also addressing the union's demands for higher wages and better healthcare benefits.

The details

The negotiations are focused on wages and healthcare. The teachers' union, United Educators of San Francisco, is seeking a 4.5% wage increase each year for two years, while the district has offered a 2% raise each year for the next three years, citing ongoing budget constraints and a deficit. District officials and union leaders remained in negotiations on Saturday evening, with no breakthrough announced.

  • Negotiations began around 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2026 and continued into the evening.
  • The district announced that schools would be closed on Monday, February 10, 2026.

The players

San Francisco Unified School District

The public school district serving the city of San Francisco, California.

United Educators of San Francisco

The labor union representing approximately 6,000 educators in the San Francisco Unified School District.

Emily de Ayora

A parent with three children in the San Francisco Unified School District and a member of the San Francisco Parents Coalition.

Erica Collantes-Peter

A parent in the San Francisco Unified School District who is organizing a community childcare cooperative during the school closures.

Brian Gorman

The founder and director of Rock Band Land, a day camp offering activities for students during the school closures.

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What they’re saying

“We think this is resolvable without a strike. We really believe in both sides' ability to come together and negotiate something that will give our educators what they truly deserve, but also keep our kids in school, which is what they deserve.”

— Emily de Ayora, Parent and member of San Francisco Parents Coalition

“We've organized a bit with some parents in our community. And so we have a play date scheduled. We actually also plan to join the picket with the teachers first thing in the morning and bring in some refreshments and snacks to support them.”

— Erica Collantes-Peter, SFUSD parent

“They'll have about an hour of playing the instruments, exploring the instruments that they've never played before. We have art activities, we have story writing and story listening activities. We have park time, we have free play, we have a bunch of games.”

— Brian Gorman, Founder and director of Rock Band Land

What’s next

Negotiators are expected to continue discussions on Sunday in hopes of reaching an agreement to avoid a strike.

The takeaway

This contract dispute highlights the ongoing challenges facing public education, as districts and teachers unions navigate issues of fair compensation and student learning. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant impacts on the San Francisco community.