Dublin teachers vote to authorize strike

DUBLIN — Teachers are poised to walk off the job if they cannot reach a “student-centered agreement” with the Dublin Unified School District in the coming weeks, union officials said.

In a statement Thursday, the Dublin Teachers Association said more than 98% of its members participated in a vote to authorize a strike, with over 95% voting in favor.

The vote comes after the union declared an impasse in November and mediation on Jan. 6 resulted in “no meaningful movement from the district,” according to the union.

The district did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the vote.

The union claims the district has refused to engage on critical issues impacting students, including class-size reductions, special education caseloads and educator health care.

Meanwhile, the district has more than doubled its spending on consultants, from less than $5 million in 2021, when Superintendent Chris Funk was hired, to nearly $13 million, according to the union.

The union also asserts Funk has admitted to a $3.6 million “budgeting error” and offered teacher cuts as the solution.

“For over 18 months, Dublin educators have been putting forward clear, responsible solutions that prioritize students and protect classrooms,” DTA President Brad Dobrzenski said in the statement. “District leadership has failed to implement these solutions. This strike authorization vote shows that our educators are united and serious about demanding that management invest in Dublin students.”

The final step in the negotiations — an impasse hearing — is expected to take place in the coming weeks.

The union said a neutral third party will be assigned to convene the hearing before a panel consisting of a chairperson, as well as representatives of the union and the district.

If no settlement is reached, the panel chair will issue a non-binding recommendation. After both sides have considered the recommendation, the union will be able to strike.

Check back for updates.