San Francisco Teacher Strike Ends After Week-Long Walkout

Union demands for higher pay and more staff met with district's financial constraints

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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After a week-long strike that left roughly 50,000 students without classes, the San Francisco teachers union reached a deal with the district on Friday. The union had demanded a 9% raise and additional staffing, despite the district already having a high teacher-to-student ratio and facing a $100 million budget deficit. The strike highlighted the ongoing tensions between teachers unions and the needs of students and families.

Why it matters

This case exemplifies the challenges that can arise when teachers unions prioritize their own interests over the needs of the students and families they serve. The strike disrupted the education of thousands of students and created hardship for working parents, underscoring the need for reforms that empower families and promote accountability in public education.

The details

The San Francisco teachers union demanded a 9% raise and other benefits, even though their members already earn an average base salary of $103,472 per year. The district, which is under state oversight due to financial troubles, has about one teacher for every eight students - a ratio most private schools would envy. Yet the union still wanted to hire more staff, a move seen as aimed at increasing its political influence rather than improving education.

  • The strike began on February 10, 2026 and lasted for one week.
  • The deal between the union and district was reached on February 17, 2026.

The players

San Francisco Teachers Union

The labor union representing teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District.

San Francisco Unified School District

The public school district serving the city of San Francisco, which faced a $100 million budget deficit during the strike.

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What’s next

The district and union will need to work on long-term solutions to address the district's financial challenges and find ways to better serve students, while respecting the rights and needs of teachers.

The takeaway

This strike highlights the need for education reforms that empower families, promote accountability, and ensure the interests of students are prioritized over those of special interest groups like teachers unions. School choice programs that allow families to vote with their feet could help break the cycle of strikes and hostage-taking.