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Negotiations between the Dublin teachers union and school district remain stalled as of Thursday, marking the fourth day of their ongoing strike after another unsuccessful bargaining session Wednesday.
Ahead of the midweek session, Dublin Teachers Association leaders had noted headway they achieved on some goals as they seek increased pay and benefits, smaller class sizes and a full-time counselor at each elementary school.
But following the approximately 14-hour session Wednesday, DTA officials declared the fourth consecutive day of their strike.
Since Thursday is a scheduled teacher development day, followed by no school Friday, DTA members intend to build its “movement for Dublin students” through community walks, chalk murals and visits to local businesses, association officials said in the statement.
“Five people are responsible for this strike continuing tomorrow: the Dublin School Board,” DTA President Brad Dobrzenski said in a statement Wednesday evening. “They could act now to invest in our students but instead they are choosing to continue this strike, regardless of the impact to Dublin students and families.”
“The District is willing to engage in future productive negotiations with the Union,” Dublin Unified School District’s incoming superintendent Matt Campbell said in a statement earlier in the evening. “While students are away from campus, both negotiating teams will continue their important work toward a resolution.”
Ahead of Wednesday’s bargaining session, DTA held a recorded press conference outside of Fallon Middle School.
Dobrzenski kicked off the briefing by thanking educators and the wider community for their support. He gave particular nods to those who attended Tuesday night’s DUSD Board of Trustees meeting where most of the speakers backed DTA during an approximately two-hour public comment session.
“It allowed us to get an invitation back to the table last night,” Dobrzenski explained. “We made some meaningful movement.”
During the overnight meeting, district negotiators presented a new proposal to adjust class sizes at the elementary and high school levels, fund one full-time equivalent counselor at every elementary TK-5 school for the next two years, add a high school librarian, define the process for staffing equity in elementary classes as well as establish a certificated class size fund for reducing class sizes in the 2027-28 school year, according to district officials.
The district’s offer for benefits and salary increases remained in line with a recommendation by the neutral fact-finding panel. The proposal includes a 2.1% ongoing salary increase and maximum contributions toward health care premiums at 85% for singles by July 1, 90% by Jan. 1, 2027 and 100% by Jan. 1, 2028, according to Campbell.
According to DTA’s website, the union continues to seek a 3.5% salary increase with 100% coverage of premiums for singles.
“It was the first and most hopeful thing we’ve seen in a while,” Dobrzenski said of the district’s proposal. “We still have some concerns about where we are at right now – That’s why we have a meeting time today.”
“We’re really hopeful that the movement that started last night will continue on throughout today,” Dobrzenski said.
Also at the press conference was DTA lead negotiator Monica Lewis, who expressed desire for a resolution to resume teaching.
Same-day, teachers visited trustees’ neighborhoods to “call on them to put Dublin students first and end this strike,” DTA officials said.
“The shared goal of these discussions has been, and must remain, to find common ground that balances the needs and priorities of both parties while remaining within the fiscal realities facing our district,” Campbell said in the statement on Wednesday. “Reaching a resolution that is responsible, sustainable, and fair is essential so that we can return our focus fully to serving our students.”
However, there is no apparent end in sight to the teachers strike.
“Board President Kristin Speck and our Dublin School Board members are FAILING Dublin and they don’t seem to care at all,” Dobrzenski said. “Our students and families deserve so much better than this school board – it’s time for Dublin public schools to have leaders who care about student success and show us with their leadership.”
DTA has also presented to district officials its budget solutions, he noted in the statement.
“We recognize the disruption this situation has caused and deeply appreciate the flexibility and support our community has shown,” Campbell said.
