Twin Rivers Unified educators are on strike for first time in district's history
Educators in the Twin Rivers Unified School District are officially on strike as of Thursday for the first time in the district's two-decade history.
Twin Rivers United Educators (TRUE) is leading the charge and President Brittoni Ward confirmed to CBS Sacramento on Wednesday that, without a deal overnight, the strike would begin Thursday morning and continue until they can reach a deal.
"We love our students. We love our community. We're doing this for them," Ward said.
Thursday morning, teachers across Twin Rivers walked out of the classroom and onto the picket line. They say the community support has been overwhelming.
"This is the first day of the strike. We'll be here as long as we need to be," said Jon Highfill, a teacher who is part of the union's bargaining team.
Educators are pushing for higher pay to stay competitive with other area districts, fully covered healthcare for all educators and smaller class sizes.
"We would have teachers that wouldn't want to leave go to other districts. We're losing teachers like crazy because other districts in surrounding areas offer better competitive wages, better benefit packages," Highfill said.
Elizabeth Arias, a teacher, said that while she would prefer to be in my classroom, she told her students that she would "unite with my fellow educators" because "we need this change."
"The reduction of classrooms, there are kids sitting in classrooms with over 40 students," Arias said. "They can't learn."
Some parents told CBS Sacramento they would not be sending their children to school as a show of support for the teachers.
"It's not just about the teachers, it's about the students too," said Erika Flores, a TRUSD parent. "We need counselors. My child is autistic. He needs more teaching. He needs more help, you know, in different areas."
The two sides have been in negotiations for months now. The district says an independent panel helped them come up with their current offer: a cumulative 4.7% raise, along with fully paid Kaiser health care, all through the end of the 2027 school year.
Teachers say that's not cutting it.
"Their fair contract was actually a benefit package that expires at the end of next school year that we would have to completely re-negotiate again. That's unacceptable," Highfill said. "We need something that our teachers can invest in so that they can call this place home."
The district said in a statement, "This strike did not have to happen, and it does not have to continue. Instead of being in classrooms with their students, teachers are on the picket line after choosing to strike rather than continue negotiations."
"We're going to stand on the sides. We're going to be on the sidewalks picketing," Highfill said. "We'll be here rallying because we're trying to make those classrooms better for them when we return."
TRUSD leadership further stated that schools would remain open during the strike and that all activities, including after-school programs, would continue.
To fill the empty classrooms, Twin Rivers Unified is offering above-average substitute pay during the strike, which the union says will last as long as needed.