On Friday March 24 several hundred Oakland high school and middle school teachers walked out in an wildcat  strike to put pressure on OUSD in the current contract negotiations  and to make clear that they won’t accept a watered-down settlement.  At a few schools there were pickets in front in the morning; at 11:00 strikers from all the schools came together in downtown for a rally and a march to the OUSD offices. Teachers, substitutes, a librarian, parents, classified staff, and an ILWU member spoke.  Most speakers were focused on raises retain teachers and stabilize schools.  OEA has asked for 22.9%— what it would take to bring average pay to the county median.  Many speakers said they would not accept less, and an online survey  (QRs all over at the rally) was set up to make clear what members would accept on this and other contract issues. School Closures, class size,

In the lead-up to the 2019 OEA strike, there were ‘rolling sick-outs’, first at Oakland High and then at other schools.  This was a strike— more public,  with pickets at a few schools and a very visible rally. This hardly ever happens in the U.S. labor movement; there are very few unions with members organized and motivated enough to do this.  The emergence of this tactic in Oakland is important beyond Oakland— and it shows the politicization and organization of OEA members.

   David de Leeuw,  OEA retired