Following a mediation session that went late into the night on Monday, the Sacramento City Unified School District’s negotiations team continued to meet with representatives from the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) bargaining team and two state appointed mediators throughout the day on Tuesday. 

Here is the schedule of meetings that were scheduled and occurred over the last 48 hours.

Monday, March 21

• The district offered to meet with SCTA at 9:00 a.m. At SCTA’s request, the meeting was scheduled at 2:30 p.m.
• Starting at 2:30 p.m. the district’s negotiations team met in a joint session with SCTA and two state-appointed mediators for over an hour. During this time, the district presented to SCTA its proposals.
• After presenting the proposals, the district met with the mediators and for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening the district worked with the mediators in shuttle negotiations between the district and SCTA.
• The mediation ended shortly after 10:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22

• The district’s negotiations team offered to be available to continue meeting as early as 9:00 a.m.
• The mediators joined a meeting with the district at 11:30 a.m.
• For the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening, the mediators conducted a series of meetings with the district and SCTA via shuttle negotiations. 
• Around 8:30 p.m. the district learned through media reports that SCTA concluded the mediation.
• The mediators concluded their meeting with the district negotiations team at 8:36 p.m.

The district’s negotiations team remains ready to continue negotiations with SCTA, and has offered to continue bargaining throughout the day on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the district presented an enhanced proposal that includes all of the employee compensation enhancements offered to SCTA on Monday, plus a proposal to pay for one year 80 percent (80%) of the cost difference between the cost of a Kaiser health plan and the cost of a HealthNet plan for those employees currently enrolled in HealthNet that choose to continue HealthNet coverage.

The district’s updated proposals can be viewed at www.scusd.edu on the Negotiations Update page. If accepted by SCTA, the district’s proposals will provide the following for SCTA-represented employees:

Health Coverage:

• 100% health coverage through Kaiser provided for all-SCTA represented employees and all their immediate family members at no cost to employees.
• New proposal: For one year, the district will pay eighty (80) percent of the cost difference between the cost of health coverage offered through Kaiser and the cost of a HealthNet plan for those employees that chose to continue HealthNet coverage.
• Employees that already have health coverage can opt to receive $3,000 per year ($250 per month) in-lieu of receiving this coverage through the district.

Pay Increases

• Ongoing 2% salary increase starting in the 2021-22 school year.

One-Time Bonuses

• 2% one-time stipend for 2021-2022; and
• 1% one-time stipend for 2020-2021; and
• 1% one-time stipend for 2019-2020.
• $2,000 signing bonus for new employees hired into a certificated position on or before September 15, 2022 for the 2022-23 school year.

Increased Pay for Substitute Teachers and Nurses

• Increase substitute teacher daily rate by 25% for substitutes who filled in for absent teachers during the 2021-22 school year.
• Provide an extra $150 per hour for nurses who took on extra COVID-related work beyond their regular 6-hour day during the 2021-22 school year.

More Professional Development

• Offer three (3) additional paid days for professional learning, which increases salaries an additional 1.65% for 2022-23.

“Given that SCTA and SEIU are moving forward with a strike, we remain very concerned about our students, their families, and our entire community,” said Christina Pritchett, President of the SCUSD Board of Education. “The current proposals to increase compensation are a reflection of what we can currently afford in our budget. We urge SCTA to return to the bargaining table and give these proposals to increase employee compensation due consideration.

“The next successor contract will present new opportunities for both parties to work together. After three school years impacted by COVID, we know that student and staff needs will be great. We hope to collaborate on ideas to improve teaching and learning, recruiting and retaining talented staff, and ways to recognize staff for their hard work and ongoing commitment to our students.”