Oakland teachers hit the picket lines Thursday to voice demands for better pay and smaller class sizes, among other issues.
Oakland teachers went on strike Thursday morning in the country’s latest walkout by educators over classroom conditions and pay.
Do you have questions about the strike and its potential impacts? Check out the breakdown below for answers to some common strike-related questions:
Who's involved?
The strike involves the Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland Education Association, which is the union that represents nearly 3,000 teachers, counselors, nurses, psychologists, librarians, speech pathologists, social workers and substitute teachers in the district.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Hundreds of teachers and their supporters surrounded La Escuelita Elementary on Wednesday, the fifth day of the teachers strike, where a school board meeting was slated to take place.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Hundreds of teachers and their supporters surrounded La Escuelita Elementary on Wednesday, the fifth day of the teachers strike, where a school board meeting was slated to take place.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Hundreds of teachers and their supporters surrounded La Escuelita Elementary on Wednesday, the fifth day of the teachers strike, where a school board meeting was slated to take place.
Suministrada
Hundreds of teachers and their supporters surrounded La Escuelita Elementary on Wednesday, the fifth day of the teachers strike, where a school board meeting was slated to take place.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Hundreds of Oakland teachers union supporters gathered in East Oakland on Tuesday, Feb. 26, to march to Roots International Academy, one of the schools district plans to close.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Frank Ogawa Plaza is packed with Oakland teachers and supporters on Thursday, Feb. 21, the first day of the strike.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Frank Ogawa Plaza is packed with Oakland teachers and supporters on Thursday, Feb. 21, the first day of the strike.
Melissa Colorado/NBC Bay Area
Frank Ogawa Plaza is packed with Oakland teachers and supporters on Thursday, Feb. 21, the first day of the strike.
Frank Ogawa Plaza is packed with Oakland teachers and supporters on Thursday, Feb. 21, the first day of the strike.
Jeff Chiu/AP
Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown, center left, yells after speaking outside of Manzanita Community School in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.
PATRULLA FRONTERIZA
Roxana De La O Cortez, teacher at Manzanita SEED Elementary School, marches with other teachers and supporters in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.
Jeff Chiu/AP
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., center, marches with Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown, center right, along with teachers and supporters outside of Manzanita Community School in Oakland, Calif., Feb. 21, 2019.
Bob Redell/NBC Bay Area
Teachers at Oakland Technical High School gather outside the school campus on the first day of strike.
Jeff Chiu/AP
Garrick Ruiz, union member with United Teachers of Los Angeles, center, yells while teachers and supporters march outside of Manzanita Community School in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019. Teachers in Oakland went on strike Thursday in the country's latest walkout by educators over classroom conditions and pay.
PATRULLA FRONTERIZA
Teachers at Oakland Technical High School gather outside the school campus on the first day of strike.
Tamara Palmer
Teachers at Oakland Technical High School gather outside the school campus on the first day of strike.
Tamara Palmer
A number of students refuse to cross the picket lines and attend class today at Oakland Technical High School. They stand in solidarity with their teachers who are striking for better pay and smaller class sizes.
Pete Suratos/NBC Bay Area
Teachers hold up signs outside Manzanita Community School in Oakland on the first day of the strike.
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Oakland Unified School District students, teachers and parent carry signs as they march to the Oakland Unified School District headquarters on February 21, 2019 in Oakland, California. Nearly 3,000 teachers in Oakland have gone on strike and are demanding a 12 percent retroactive raise. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Oakland Unified School District students and teachers carry signs as they picket outside of Oakland Technical High School on February 21, 2019 in Oakland, California. Nearly 3,000 teachers in Oakland have gone on strike and are demanding a 12 percent retroactive raise. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: A student wears a homemade hat during a march to the Oakland Unified School District headquarters on February 21, 2019 in Oakland, California. Nearly 3,000 teachers in Oakland have gone on strike and are demanding a 12 percent retroactive raise. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Getty Images
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Oakland Unified School District students, teachers and parents gather at Oakland City Hall before marching to the Oakland Unified School District headquarters on February 21, 2019 in Oakland, California. Nearly 3,000 teachers in Oakland have gone on strike and are demanding a 12 percent retroactive raise. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
What are striking teachers asking for?
Teachers are demanding a 12 percent retroactive raise covering 2017 to 2020. They also want the district to hire more counselors to support students and more full-time nurses.
A teacher’s starting salary in the district is $46,500 a year and the average salary is $63,000, according to the union. By comparison, a starting teacher makes $51,000 a year in neighboring Berkeley and the average salary is $75,000, the union said.
Initially, the district offered a 5 percent raise covering 2017 to 2020, saying it is squeezed by rising costs and a budget crisis.
Will schools remain open during the strike?
Yes. Schools in the district will still be open during the strike. Students are expected to show up for class. The walkout affects 36,000 students at 86 schools.
At a news conference Saturday, Oakland Education Association president Keith Brown said “enough is enough.” The teachers union is demanding a 12 percent raise over the next three years.
What should students expect to experience during the strike?
The district says school will not be "school as usual" during the strike. Principals, staff and temporary emergency teachers will be responsible for teaching and supervising students. Temporary teachers won't necessarily continue teaching regular teachers' scheduled lesson plans, but they will be able to use "appropriate instructional plans" that principals have access to, according to the district.
Will students still have access to school meals?
Yes. Lunch will be provided by OUSD Nutrition Services during the strike. Breakfast options will be "simplified," according to the district.
The superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District on Wednesday discussed a new initiative to help the district through its current budget problems as a possible teacher strike looms on the horizon. Melissa Colorado reports.
What's the status of after-school programs?
According to the district, all state and federally funded after-school programs will continue to operate during the strike.
