On Monday, April 7, a fact-finding hearing took place at the Fremont Unified District Teacher’s Association (FUDTA) office, addressing tensions between FUDTA and the Fremont Unified School District. A fact-finding panel was appointed and called in to look into FUSD finances and listen to representatives from FUSD and FUDTA present their cases. An agreement was not reached and the hearing took place until 2:30 AM the following day.
Teachers and supporters of FUDTA mentioned that this hearing was the district’s final chance to avoid an official strike, where teachers would temporarily refrain from coming to work. FUDTA also organized a rally outside of the office at the time of the hearing, from 3:30 to 6 PM. The uncertain results of the hearing amplify strike concerns, possibly after the district-wide Spring Break, which lasts from April 18 to 25.
FUDTA is protesting numerous causes. FUDTA president Victoria Chon mentioned, “We’re hoping that FUSD will focus the entire budget for our students. We’re fighting for our specialist case loads, healthcare for our teachers, our salaries, and all of that put together makes sure that the entire budget prioritizes everything that puts our students first.” FUDTA grievances especially include concerns for medical insurance. Irvington math teacher and union representative Ms. Chung added, “We pay for our dental coverage out of pocket. We pay for our own health care. So right now the district has offered to pay for our dental, but we’re also asking for $1,000 towards healthcare per year if bought through the district.”
Chon also addressed the rise in healthcare coverage prices among California’s rapid inflation struggles. “When I started teaching in Fremont, I was paying $300 a month for my healthcare, and then that number went up to $800 in three years. Making sure that we’re able to just sustain the high cost of healthcare is especially essential. And so our aspiration is just to receive $1,000 a year.”
In addition to fighting for healthcare and dental benefits, many teachers continue to advocate for smaller class sizes and more funding for special education programs. Catherina Baca, a teacher from James Leitch Elementary School, stated, “The essential part is the district investing in and hiring more teachers so that we can have smaller class sizes. Especially in the lower elementary level, like TK through third grade, class sizes really should be in the lower 20s.”
In the aftermath of the hearing, FUSD reported that their discussions did not yield an agreement. A report from a neutral member of the hearing panel is scheduled to be released around April 17. However, the uncertain nature of the negotiations may propel FUDTA toward declaring an official strike. Regardless, all FUSD schools will continue to stay open.
On April 17, FUDTA and FUSD met to review the recommendations from the fact-finding sessions. Students and teachers are heading to spring break, possibly returning to a strike.
