San Francisco teachers’ strike enters third day as wage and benefits talks stall, schools stay closed

Schools closed for a third day as talks falter

San Francisco’s public schools remained closed Wednesday as the teachers’ strike entered its third day, leaving roughly 48,000–50,000 students out of classrooms across about 120 campuses. The walkout involves roughly 6,000 educators represented by United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) and marks the city’s first teachers strike in nearly 50 years.

Negotiations showed renewed strain Tuesday night after union leaders left bargaining without reviewing the district’s latest proposal, prompting public calls for both sides to return to the table and stay until a deal is reached. District leadership has said it is prepared to bargain continuously, while union leaders have argued that the pace and priorities of negotiations have not matched conditions educators face in schools.

Core dispute: pay, health coverage, and special education resources

The central gap remains compensation and benefits, set against SFUSD’s fiscal constraints and the cost of living in San Francisco. UESF has sought a 9% wage increase over two years, while SFUSD has proposed a 6% raise over three years as part of what it has described as a three-year “stability package.”

SFUSD’s stated proposal has also included fully paid family health benefits, additional salary support aimed at hard-to-staff special education paraeducator positions, and a pilot intended to address special education workload issues. The district has linked its offer to continuing budget pressure, including a reported deficit in the nine-figure range and the prospect of additional cuts if labor costs rise beyond planned spending.

How negotiations reached this point

SFUSD and UESF have been in bargaining for months and jointly declared impasse before moving into a formal fact-finding process administered through the state’s public-sector labor framework. Fact-finding is designed to evaluate evidence from both parties and can produce non-binding settlement recommendations; negotiations can continue during this period. After the process, the district may impose a final offer, and the union can decide whether to strike.

Families scramble; community groups step in

With campuses shut, families have been forced to arrange childcare, supervision, and learning plans with little certainty on reopening. Community organizations, including churches and neighborhood centers, have offered daytime programming and meals in some areas. For many parents, the disruption has been compounded by the needs of students who rely on school-based services, including special education supports.

Public pressure mounts as both sides harden positions

Public demonstrations continued Wednesday, including union actions meant to emphasize that educators view their demands as tied to staffing stability and student support. City leaders have urged rapid progress, but by midday Wednesday no agreement had been announced and school reopening remained uncertain.

• What’s next: Continued bargaining could produce a tentative agreement, but the strike is set to continue absent a deal.

• Key unresolved issues: Wage increases, long-term health benefit costs, and resources—particularly in special education.

With schools closed and negotiations strained, the primary near-term question is whether both sides can narrow the wage-and-benefits gap without triggering additional cuts or extending the shutdown.