Indivisible SF Supports UESF Strike
The United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) went on strike on Monday, February 9, as part of the statewide “We Can’t Wait” movement, aimed at improving conditions in California public schools for both students and teachers. The union, representing San Francisco United School District (SFUSD) teachers and paraprofessionals, had invested 10 months into negotiations before calling the strike. They managed to shore up sanctuary protections before the strike began, but remained at odds with the district on other important points including staffing and pay.
Indivisible SF supports the We Can’t Wait platform and the UESF strike. We encourage you to look to UESF for the most up to date information. As of publication time, these are the ways you can help:
If you are an SFUSD family, do not send your kids to school, if at all possible.
Funding is tied to attendance. Each day with no instruction costs the district $7M - $10M. For kids requiring daytime supervision, ask your educators and the other families at your school about “Solidarity Schools.”Also avoid “independent study.”
The district wants to be able to use independent study packets to say that there was instruction on those days and therefore they should receive funds. Agreeing to independent study could lessen pressure on the district, which may prolong the strike.Ask the churches, libraries, and recreation centers in your neighborhood to support the strike by offering their facilities as “Solidarity Schools.”
Join or support a picket line!
Educators and community members will be on the picket line most of the day. They will need drinks, food, and access to restrooms. If you can’t join the picket line, consider dropping off snacks, water, or coffee/tea. Other needs will arise (cough drops? batteries? hand sanitizer?) so open channels of communication will be especially helpful. Fill out this Adopt A Picket form to be connected via email to the community supporting your local school!Volunteer to create and run food distribution points for kids who do need meals, but don’t need full-day supervision.
Send a message of support for UESF’s demands to the school board, especially if you’re a SFUSD parent.
Donate to the UESF Solidarity Strike Fund, if you’re able.