San Francisco Teachers Strike Shuts All 120 Schools for Third Day as Union Seeks 9% Raise and Fully Funded Family Health Care
About 6,000 San Francisco public school teachers — staging the district’s first strike since 1979 — walked out Monday, closing all 120 SFUSD schools for a third consecutive day and leaving roughly 50,000 students out of class. The union is demanding a 9% raise over two years, fully funded family health care and more special‑education and student‑support hires, while the district, citing a roughly $100 million deficit and state fiscal oversight, has offered smaller wage increases and limited family‑coverage options; parents are scrambling for childcare and food assistance even as Superintendent Maria Su says talks have made some progress on homeless‑family supports and AI training, though gaps on pay and benefits remain.
📌 Key Facts
- About 6,000 San Francisco public school teachers walked out on Monday — the district’s first strike since 1979 — closing all 120 SFUSD schools and affecting roughly 50,000 students.
- All 120 SFUSD schools remained closed for at least a third consecutive day (Wednesday), leaving about 50,000 students out of school and disrupting families’ routines.
- The union’s demands include a 9% pay raise over two years (estimated at about $92 million a year), fully funded family health care, filling vacancies in special education and student services, and policies to support homeless and immigrant students.
- SFUSD’s counteroffer includes a 6% wage increase spread over three years, options for either 75% district‑paid Kaiser family coverage or a $24,000 annual health‑care allowance, and potential bonuses in 2027–28 if district finances allow.
- SFUSD says it faces a roughly $100 million deficit and is under state fiscal oversight; a neutral fact‑finder recommended a 6% increase (over two years), largely backing the district’s claim of financial constraints.
- Rank‑and‑file teachers say they are being priced out of the city and that schools are understaffed, and many have expressed willingness to remain on strike until their demands are met.
- Parents report juggling work and childcare, and many are relying on churches and community programs for food and daytime supervision while schools are closed.
- Superintendent Maria Su said there has been progress in talks on supports for homeless families and on AI training and best practices for teachers, but significant gaps remain on wages and fully funded family health benefits.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 11, 2026
5:09 AM
San Francisco parents scramble as teachers strike leaves 50,000 students out of school
New information:
- Confirms SFUSD’s 120 schools will be closed for at least a third consecutive day on Wednesday.
- Adds detailed parent‑level impact, including families juggling work, childcare, and reliance on churches and community programs for food and daytime supervision.
- Reports Superintendent Maria Su saying there was progress in talks on support for homeless families, AI training for teachers, and best practices for AI tools, even as wage and family‑health‑benefit gaps remain.
February 09, 2026
7:58 PM
San Francisco teachers strike over wages, health benefits and student resources
New information:
- Confirms about 6,000 teachers are on strike in San Francisco’s first walkout in nearly 50 years, closing all 120 SFUSD schools and affecting some 50,000 students.
- Details the union’s specific demands: a 9% raise over two years (an estimated $92 million a year), fully funded family health care, filling vacancies in special education and student services, and policies to support homeless and immigrant students.
- Spells out the district’s counteroffer: a 6% wage increase spread over three years, options for either 75% district‑paid Kaiser family coverage or a $24,000 annual health‑care allowance, and potential bonuses in 2027‑28 if there is a surplus.
- Notes SFUSD’s $100 million deficit, state fiscal oversight, and a neutral fact‑finder’s recommendation of a 6% increase over two years, largely siding with the district’s claim of financial constraint.
- Includes reaction and quotes from rank‑and‑file teachers describing being priced out of San Francisco and saying schools are understaffed, emphasizing their willingness to remain on strike until demands are met.
5:59 PM
San Francisco public school teachers on strike for first time in nearly 50 years
New information:
- The strike has actually begun, with thousands of teachers walking out on Monday.
- All 120 San Francisco public schools were closed because of the walkout.
- This is San Francisco public school teachers’ first strike since 1979.
February 06, 2026