More than 20 members of SEIU 1021 showed up to the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education meeting on March 10. They delivered the same message they’ve been trying to convey to district leaders that has so far been disregarded: It’s long past time to settle a fair contract.

As classified professionals lined up to speak during public comment, their frustration was clear. Speakers described the strain on themselves and their colleagues working for a district that has yet to reach an agreement with the union.

SFUSD chef and union member Josh Davidson criticized the district during public comment Tuesday night, saying contract negotiations have dragged on for nearly a year since the previous agreement expired June 30. “It’s time to get it done,” Davidson told board members, noting that the district’s team came to the most recent bargaining session with “zero proposals — nothing of any kind,” which he called disrespectful.

Meanwhile, he said, managers are asking him and his team to increase their workload by 60% next year without additional staff time, not because the district can’t afford it, but because it can’t hire people while workers remain without a contract.

SEIU 1021 members include community schools coordinators, food service workers, custodians, and clerks who keep campuses running and help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Many speakers said the ongoing contract dispute is affecting morale.

One memorable moment came from a community schools coordinator from Guadalupe Elementary School, who urged the board to recognize the importance of maintaining bilingual staff and investing in the workers who build trusted relationships with families.

The speaker emphasized that bilingual employees play a critical role in supporting SFUSD’s diverse communities by helping families navigate the school system, access resources, and stay connected to their children’s education.

While this is moving testimony for most, the board seemingly remained unmoved.

Union members say the issue is not only about wages and working conditions, it’s also about student stability. When critical support staff leave due to low pay or uncertain working conditions, or positions can’t be filled because the contract has expired, students lose trusted adults who often serve as mentors and first points of contact for families.

For the workers who filled the board chambers on March 10, the goal is and has been to secure a strong contract so they can keep focusing on what brought them to the job in the first place: supporting students and helping schools thrive.