Posts tagged San Francisco
Mayor Lurie tells S.F. departments to plan for 500 job cuts as labor battles intensify
March 7, 2026 // Mayor Daniel Lurie was already in a tough spot with San Francisco labor unions Monday when his administration delivered a sobering message: City Hall needs to eliminate hundreds of jobs. At least 500 positions are on the chopping block as the city seeks to reduce its spending on salary and benefits by $100 million, according to Lurie’s budget director Sophia Kittler. She told departments in an email that San Francisco “cannot afford to sustain current spending on personnel costs” as it works to eliminate the recurring deficits that have plagued the city since the pandemic.
US judge leery of blocking FEMA job cuts pending unions’ lawsuit
March 4, 2026 // A federal judge in California on Tuesday said she would likely deny an early bid by unions representing government workers to block President Donald Trump's administration from cutting thousands of disaster-response jobs at the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Wave of California teacher strikes ‘is no coincidence’
March 4, 2026 // Thousands of California K-12 teachers have walked off their jobs or voted to strike in the past few months, as part of a strategic, statewide effort by the California Teachers Association to boost salaries and benefits — and get the public’s attention. “All these districts going out on strike — it’s not a coincidence at all,” said David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union. “Everywhere in the state there are people with unmet needs. The conditions have been ripe for a long time.”
Oakland Schools, Teachers Union Reach Deal, Avert Strike
March 1, 2026 // Last summer, it just regained local control after 20 years in state receivership. Without factoring in the price of the new deal, OUSD is eyeing $102 million in cuts by June. Interim Superintendent Denise Saddler told the school board this week that without those reductions, “we won’t be able to pay all the people on our payroll in the fall. We don’t have the money in the budget for next year.” On Wednesday, OUSD approved cutting nearly 400 staff positions, including 180 filled by OEA members, through early retirement buyouts, elimination of vacant positions, and layoffs. Altogether, that is estimated to save about $11 million annually
San Francisco court clerks to begin strike Thursday after contract negotiations stall
February 26, 2026 // “Mandated services will proceed with the help of management employees who will triage and prioritize emergency matters for people who need help today,” said Court Executive Officer Riley in the statement. “It is unfortunate that SEIU has decided to disrupt court services after more than 28 bargaining sessions and two mediation sessions to reach a fair 3-year contract that reflects the economic realities of state funding for the judicial branch.”
Fresh hell for parents as another major CA teachers’ union votes for strikes
February 24, 2026 // The education association said 91% of participating members backed the move, accusing the district of failing to make meaningful movement on salary demands and classroom conditions. It comes just days after San Francisco signed a deal worth $183 million with teachers following a week without classes, with sweeping layoffs expected to come. Union leaders say educators in Oakland rank among the lowest paid in the Bay Area and have pledged to fight for a contract that delivers “safe, stable, racially-just schools.”
SFUSD to issue layoff notices a week after $183 million deal to end teachers strike
February 23, 2026 // Prior to the teacher contract negotiations, the district faced an ongoing deficit even after cutting $114 million from the $1.4 billion budget last year.
San Francisco’s Lamplighters Music Theatre cancels spring production, citing rising costs and AB5
February 18, 2026 // At the same time it’s lost revenue, costs have gone up due to AB5, among other factors. That law’s original target was gig-work companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart, but those behemoths have so far escaped the law’s costly stipulations because of voter-passed Proposition 22. Meanwhile, tiny performing arts companies that lacked the resources to obtain a carve-out are the ones digging in their pockets for a law that wasn’t even written with them in mind. At Lamplighters, Uzelac said, paying the same artists now costs twice what it did before.
SF Ghirardelli workers hold Valentine’s Day strike outside iconic chocolate and ice cream shop
February 17, 2026 // Employees picketed all day Saturday at Ghirardelli's longtime ice cream and chocolate shop at Ghirardelli Square. Union workers want a new contract with better wages and the ability to keep their current union health plan. The one-day picket line got lots of attention outside Ghirardelli's famous chocolate and ice cream shop. It's no coincidence this labor action is happening on one of the busiest days for chocolate.
Teachers strike ends after union, district reach tentative deal
February 16, 2026 // • An 8.5% raise over two years for classified employees such as paraeducators, and a 5% raise over two years for teachers and certificated employees. • Local property-tax revenue will fund health care at Kaiser Permanente rates for union members’ families starting July 1, and health care for unionized employees starting Jan. 1, 2027. • Relief for special educators that include raising overage pay and reduced caseloads for certain programs.