OEA Bargaining Newsletter Updates

Bargaining Update 5/15/25

Our big bargaining team is working hard to have all proposals across the table for the successor contract before the end of this school year. Tonight we shared language on SPED and Hours of Work. Our committees were powerful in their advocacy! Again, OUSD arrived with no counter-proposals. Your OEA Bargaining Team continues to engage in good faith bargaining - our proposals reflect not only how we are the moving party at the bargaining table but our commitment to improve teaching and learning conditions in our schools. Proposals can be found on oea.fyi

Bargaining Update 5/8/25

Our big bargaining team worked to win big and maintain positions impacted by OUSD’s budget cuts, and the fight is not over! Our contract expires June 30 (we will still be protected by this contract while bargaining our new contract) and our team is working hard to have all proposals across the table for the successor contract before the end of this school year. Tonight we shared language about AI, Community Schools/Shared Decision Making, Affirmative Action, and Faculty Council with the district. They arrived with no counter-proposals to any of our previous proposals. We have two more meetings with them on the calendar this month and are working to maintain good faith bargaining. Proposals can be found on oea.fyi 

Dear OEA Members,

It is my honor to share incredible news with you today—on El Día del Niñ@ (Day of the Child), a Latin American holiday celebrating children around the world. On this meaningful day, your OEA Bargaining Team has reached an impact bargaining agreement with the District, averting a strike and delivering a student-centered victory for our community.

Announcing this agreement on a day dedicated to honoring children reflects our deep commitment to racial justice, equity, and stability for Oakland students. This victory belongs to all of us—and it shows what’s possible when we unite and organize.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our extraordinary bargaining team, as well as to every member and family who stood firm in saying no to cuts at our school sites. We also acknowledge the School Board leadership, who—through their actions—showed that a better path forward is possible in Oakland.

What We Won:

• Member-Driven Victory!

• Maintained 65 site based STIP Sub positions at high needs schools

• Restored pay for 11-month educators at hard to fill high schools

• Preserved essential equity-centered positions, including:

• English Language Development (ELD) teachers

• School Social Workers

These hard-fought wins came despite the District's continued refusal to provide essential budget information, which we’ve demanded for months. Nevertheless, we prevailed—because of you, BECAUSE OF US. This moment is a testament to the power of collective action. Solidarity is not just a word; it is action. And that action has protected the students, educators, and communities we love.

What’s Next:

• Successor contract bargaining resumes immediately. Our current contract expires June 30, and critical work remains to secure the improvements our schools need.

• Join us on May 1st for the Oakland Sin Fronteras May Day March, standing in solidarity with immigrants and all working-class communities under attack. OEA will gather at Josie de la Cruz Park at 3PM, with the march to San Antonio Park beginning at 4PM.

Please notify families at your school that the strike has been averted and invite them to march with OEA on May Day. You can share this message via ParentSquare and fliers below.

Why This Matters:

Today’s agreement is a powerful message—not just to OUSD, but to the broader world—that Oakland educators will always rise to defend our students, our values, and our future. And this is just the beginning. We must remain united in our fight against the racist, classist, and dehumanizing attacks on public education and our communities—whether they come from budget offices or from the national stage.

Oakland has always stood with us. Now, we stand with them.



In Solidarity,

Kampala Taiz-Rancifer

President, Oakland Education Association

Strike Vote Update

• OEA members have authorized the President to call a one-day ULP strike, if necessary

• We remain focused on finding a resolution to our ULP's through ongoing negotiations with the district.

Your Big Bargaining Team

Dear OEA Colleague:

Here are the latest updates on protecting student programs and educator jobs:

• OUSD has recognized the wrongful salary reductions for the UAOS Community Schools Managers and has taken steps to restore their salaries, mirroring the situation with our 11-month teachers

• However, OUSD refuses to recognize that this is the same type of contract violation. 

• OEA Leaders met with the OUSD Senior Leadership Team to discuss what it would take to resolve the Unfair Labor Practices

• Two late night bargaining sessions (we went until 9:30pm last night, Friday) have not yet led to an agreement that meets the needs of our impacted members.

• We are scheduled to meet with OUSD on Wednesday, April 30,2025.

We have asked the district to meet with us on Monday and Tuesday to reach an agreement that gives our impacted members and community peace of mind heading into the final weeks of school. The door remains open to OUSD to meet before April 30th.

Our fight back takes many forms - organizing for a ULP strike, pursuing legal challenges, lobbying the school board and making reasonable proposals to keep cuts away from the classroom. 

I was particularly interested to learn on Friday that an Unfair Practice Charge over the 11-month teacher salary reductions could result in an award for backpay plus interest.

I did not have “district manufactured budget crisis” on my bingo card for the first year of my OEA presidency. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with a kind word, encouragement and nuggets of advice. 

I will never back down from any fight for Oakland’s educators, students and families. I have been fighting education equity for 20 years here is OUSD, first as a parent, then as a teacher leader and now as OEA President. It is literally my life’s passion, not to mention my role as president, to stand up for you and fight alongside you. 

In Unity,

Kampala Taiz-Rancifer

President

4/25 Bargaining Updates

We have been at the table for the last two evenings for impact bargaining with OUSD. Tonight, we stayed until 9:30 pm and still we have not reached any agreement that offers an acceptable outcome to our impacted members.

We are inviting the district to meet with us Monday and Tuesday to address the urgency of impact bargaining. The district has said they are only available on Wednesday 4/30.

We are urging the district to meet with us at the beginning of next week so that we can come to an agreement that is fair for our impacted members. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

As OEA members, we are considering an Unfair Labor Practice strike on May 1 in response to the District’s repeated refusal to fulfill information requests and provide crucial information we need to bargain the impacts of cutting the jobs and salaries of our members. It’s simple! We cannot bargain the impacts if we do not know who is losing their job or who is getting their salary reduced.   

OEA wants stability and a strike is always the last resort. We continue to work towards a resolution and are inching closer each day, but we need the district to be a willing partner.   

We need the help of our members to send a clear message to the district urging them to give us the information we need to best serve our students and members, as well as settle our impact bargaining.

5 Minute Ask: 

Please email the school board members using the script below:

Rachel Latta (D1): rachel.latta@ousd.org

Jennifer Brouhard (D2): jennifer.brouhard@ousd.org 

VanCedric Williams (D3): vancedric.williams@ousd.org 

Mike Hutchinson (D4): mike.hutchinson@ousd.org 

Patrice Berry (D5): patrice.berry@ousd.org 

Valarie Bachelor (D6): valarie.bachelor@ousd.org 

Clifford Thompson (D7): clifford.thompson@ousd.org

Subject Line: Direct OUSD Labor Relations to settle impact bargaining 

Hello, I am an educator at ________________________________. I am calling on you, our elected OUSD school board, to settle impact bargaining.

Direct Labor Relations to FULFILL outstanding information requests so that OEA and OUSD can engage in and successfully conclude impact bargaining.  

It is imperative that Labor Relations understands that OEA educators are expecting them to:



• Release the budget information they are legally required to share with OEA.

• Meet with OEA’s bargaining team and reach an agreement this week at the scheduled impact bargaining sessions, in order to address the cuts to student-facing jobs.

We appreciate your time and attention to this important matter.

Sincerely, 

4/17 Bargaining Update: 

Tonight OEA put more proposals across the table focused on our successor contract. Bargaining Team members shared proposals around immigrant student supports, Article 15: Class Size, Early Elementary Article 21.24, 21.25, 21.26, 22, and a new section for Article 28 on School Closures.

We are prepared for two more bargaining sessions next week, and our immediate focus is settling on impact bargaining language. 

These proposals, all current proposals from both parties, and text blasts, can be found at our up and running OEA bargaining team website: OEA.fyi.

Given the history of the District’s bad faith behavior, it is imperative that impact bargaining be merged with the successor contract, so that we can ensure that there is a fair outcome for our members. 

Remember to check your email and vote on the strike authorization!

We have additional bargaining dates next week- we will update members then as well. 

April 16 and 17 Bargaining Updates:

Wednesday and today, our OEA bargaining team met with OUSD to continue impact bargaining alongside our negotiations for our successor contract; for impacts, we are bargaining the impacts to changes in workload, working conditions, wages, and hours of work as a result of OUSD's cuts and "budget balancing solutions."

We brought forth a proposal around the 2025 budget cuts that included STIP subs, 11-month teachers at hard-to-fill schools, ELD and continuation positions, Sojourner Truth, Specialists and May 1st as a wellness date.

We spoke about how OUSD has increased revenue this year, and with the school board’s alternative budget resolutions, there is additional money to reverse position cuts, particularly unspent money in Books and Supplies.

Tonight OEA put more proposals across the table focused on our successor contract. Bargaining Team members shared proposals around immigrant student supports, Article 15: Class Size, Early Elementary Article 21.24, 21.25, 21.26, 22, and a new section for Article 28 on School Closures.

We are prepared for two more bargaining sessions next week, and our immediate focus is settling on impact bargaining language. These proposals, all current proposals from both parties, and text blasts, can be found at our up and running OEA bargaining team website: OEA.fyi.

Given the history of the District’s bad faith behavior, it is imperative that impact bargaining be merged with the successor contract, so that we can ensure that there is a fair outcome for our members. Remember to check your email and vote on the strike authorization! 

We have additional bargaining dates next week- we will update members then as well.

4/16 Bargaining Updates

Today your OEA bargaining team met with OUSD to continue impact bargaining which we are doing alongside our successor contract; bargaining the impacts to changes in workload, working conditions, wages, and hours of work as a result of OUSD's proposed cuts and "budget balancing solutions.

We brought forth a proposal around the 2025 budget cuts that included STIP subs, 11-month teachers at hard-to-fill schools, ELD and continuation positions, Sojourner Truth, Specialists and May 1st as a wellness date. This proposal, alongside all proposals from both parties and text blasts, can be found at our up and running OEA bargaining team website: OEA.fyi

We spoke about how OUSD has increased revenue this year, and with the school board’s alternative budget resolutions, there is additional money to reverse position cuts, particularly unspent money in Books and Supplies.

We will continue bargaining with OUSD tomorrow and have additional dates next week- we will update members then as well.

4/10 Bargaining Update:

OUSD showed up to the table with a counter-proposal to Article 2 (sub-contracting) with no major changes to status quo. OEA presented three proposals to the district (counselors, Visual and Performing Arts, and Reduction in Force). After coming back from a caucus, OUSD had no questions for us.

We will begin impact bargaining next week with our whole team and OUSD's team. Alongside our successor contract, we are also bargaining  the impacts to changes in workload, working conditions, wages, and hours of work as a result of OUSD's proposed cuts and "budget balancing solutions." In the past, we have had different bargaining tables for our successor contract and for impact bargaining, complicating timelines for settlements at both tables. Given the District’s bad faith behavior, it is imperative that impact bargaining be merged with the successor contract, so that we can ensure that there is a fair outcome for our members. Currently we have two dates on the calendar to meet with the district as well as a release day for internal work for next week, which hopefully means we will have more updates soon. Check your emails for further union updates and details! 

Bargaining Update:

First Bargaining Session with OUSD!

After a full day of teaching and while officially on spring break, your OEA big bargaining team finally had our first meeting with OUSD’s team. This meeting included introductions from both groups and setting the tone (and a schedule) for bargaining moving forward.

Your bargaining team came prepared, presenting proposals on *Newcomer Supports* and *Impact Bargaining,* defined as “bargaining the impacts to changes in workload, working conditions, wages, workload, and hours of work”; in this case, impact bargaining is to address the current budget cuts.

Linked here:

UP Art 21 Newcomer Supports 2025-03-27

UP Art 12 Newcomer and ELD 2025-03-27

Impact bargaining Union Proposal #1 2025-03-27

UP Art 2 Outsourcing 2025-03-27

We will keep members updated as we continue to meet and proposals continue to be shared across the table. 

Have a restful spring break!

3/27 Bargaining Updates

After a full day of teaching and while officially on spring break, your OEA big bargaining team finally had our first meeting with OUSD’s team. This meeting included introductions from both groups and setting the tone (and a schedule) for bargaining moving forward. Your bargaining team came prepared, presenting proposals on Newcomer Supports and Impact Bargaining, defined as “bargaining the impacts to changes in workload, working conditions, wages, and hours of work”; in this case, impact bargaining is to address the current budget cuts. Proposals are linked here:

UP Art 21 Newcomer Supports 2025-03-27.pdf

UP Art 12 Newcomer and ELD 2025-03-27.pdf

Impact bargaining Union Proposal #1 2025-03-27.pdf

UP Art 2 Outsourcing 2025-03-27.pdf

We will keep members updated as we continue to meet and proposals continue to be shared across the table.

Have a restful spring break, OEA! 

3/6/2025

• On paper, tonight was our first bargaining session with the district. After numerous confirmations, check ins, and rescheduling the date for their benefit, OUSD claims to have not set their bargaining team nor to having confirmed this session (despite a verbal confirmation). We are the prepared and professional party, ready to meet after a full day of teaching, report cards, and conferences. This is a tactic we have seen and will see again as OUSD attempts to undermine union work from OEA to AFSCME, SEIU, UAOS, and BTC. It is unacceptable that after months of doing our due diligence to make improvements through negotiations that OUSD has not yet confirmed a team.

• Please continue to build power around the March 12 board meeting. We are calling for students, families, staff, and community to attend this important board meeting as they vote on budget alternatives that could undo damaging cuts to staff. Plan on coming and recruit folks from your site for this meeting. Ask parents to sign the community sign on letter here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyDY9Xuc3HpEjCVyWIUSJ3EqwEneH8hzv4OGQCyZvkIE5cPQ/viewform 

2/13 Bargaining Team Updates

• After a long night, we sunshined our intent to bargain at the school board meeting at 11pm. This platform is our vision for the process, and sharing with the board is a major step in bargaining. We are ready to begin meeting with the district and fight for the schools our students deserve. Further, we showed County Superintendent Alysse Castro that we will not stand for a takeover of a board we worked hard for and won on a shared platform of no school closures and budget plans that put schools and students first.

• Another school board meeting will take place on February 20th at La Escuelita with discussions around the budget. More information will be available closer to the date.

• Thank you to everyone who stood in the rain at Oscar Grant/Frank Ogawa Plaza to kick off our California We Can’t Wait campaign!

1/30 Bargaining Team Updates

• Thank you to those that have ratified our platform! If you haven’t yet, it takes less than 20 seconds on this link: https://localjoin.knack.com/oeadb#platform-vote/

This platform is our vision for bargaining. We need member support to bring it to life!!

• Join us on Tues 2/4 at 4pm at Oscar Grant/Frank Ogawa Plaza to kick off our California We Can’t Wait campaign! Help us represent OEA alongside Berkeley, SF, and Richmond educators fighting for the schools our students deserve

• Save the date: We are sun shining February 12th at our school board meeting. Please come and support your big OEA bargaining team! Time: TBD