After five months of intense negotiations, a sympathy strike, and countless board meetings, SEIU Local 1021 members at San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) voted by an overwhelming 94% to approve a new contract that centers on safety for all community members, regardless of immigration status, in a time of ICE raids and family separations.

“This is a strong contract we can all be proud of, made possible through the support of our membership showing up over and over at our sympathy strike with UESF and speaking out at board meetings,” said SEIU 1021 Chapter President Antonaé Robertson, a senior clerk with SFUSD. “Standing together allowed us to gain improvements in worker protections, plus much-needed raises and the addition of sanctuary policies to protect our students and their families. This is a win for our whole community.” 

In addition to necessary pay increases across the board, new hires will benefit from year-for-year credit in step placement, with additional recognition for prior district experience and hard-to-fill roles, helping schools recruit and retain skilled staff who directly serve students. Other wins include new safeguards to protect workers’ jobs around the use of artificial intelligence.

“We are proud of what we accomplished for our members and community,” said SFUSD clerk and bargaining team member, Shellie Weiner. “In this moment, when so many of our students and families face the threat of intimidation or worse at the hands of federal agents, it is our duty to do what we can to stand up and say ‘not in our city, not at our schools.’”