Tentative deal reached to avoid OUSD teachers' strike, ending nearly yearlong negotiations

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Oakland educators will not strike after the teachers' union and the school district struck a tentative agreement early Friday morning.

It marks the end of a nearly yearlong negotiation for higher wages and improved working conditions.

The California Teachers Association announced that a deal was reached at 3 a.m. Friday, after an 18-hour negotiation. It came after the union members voted to strike.

"Just really very proud of our team and all of our members," said Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, President of Oakland Education Association.

The Oakland Education Association said that the tentative agreement is a two-year agreement that includes a wage increase. They also said it includes commitments to fill vacancies, improve special education programming and a renewed commitment to community schools and Black thriving schools.

"Those are the kinds of wins that support our working conditions, but more importantly, really help to shift students' learning conditions," said Taiz-Rancifer.

Looking more specifically at the wage increases, they include a 13% wage increase over two years for educators at the top step, and an 11% increase over two years for all other educators.

There are also salary enhancements to retain credentialed teachers in early education and special education programs.

Critics say the board delayed dealing with the issues for months, leaving them to make last-minute choices.

"There are, right now, 250 vacancies in the district. Every year, over 400 educators leave the district. So it is puzzling to have the kinds of layoffs that they're talking about," said Taiz-Rancifer.

Though no budget has been passed yet for next year, the union said its deal can be funded if the district prioritizes spending, pulling money from other resources like contractors.

"We need to fund the people who are doing the work with our students," said Taiz-Rancifer.

The tentative agreement will now go to both OEA members and the OUSD school board for ratification.

Hundreds of layoffs amid massive budget deficit

Despite averting a strike, Oakland will still cut jobs at schools. This tentative agreement is coming as the Oakland Unified School Board is trying to close a $100 million gap and has approved hundreds of layoffs.

The district said declining enrollment and rising costs have pushed them into the decisions.

RELATED: Oakland Unified school board approves hundreds of layoffs amid $100M budget deficit

On Wednesday night, the School Board voted 4 to 3 to cut 400 jobs.

Their decision aligns with a state-mandated March 15th deadline to issue pink slips.

Some board members say the proposed cuts came days before the meeting, but that timeline did not phase OUSD School Board President Jennifer Brouhard.

"I don't think they were hastily made decisions, and I think that's why we got them late," Brouhard said. "Our department heads, our talent division really went through and looked at those jobs and making sure those were the right jobs."

Now, the board is one step closer to tackling the $100 million budget deficit.

However, the teacher's union considers the cuts to be short-sighted with long-term impacts that could destabilize schools.