Results poured in on Saturday, April 10 as SEIU 1021 members overwhelmingly voted down the latest health and safety proposal from Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD). 92% of voters rejected the deal, giving the bargaining team the authority to call a strike if the necessary provisions to safely re-open SCUSD schools aren’t offered.

“We all want nothing more than to return to our schools and classrooms as soon as possible. We should not be forced to risk our lives and the lives of our students to do so because the school district has decided that our protections are not important. The return to in-person learning at SCUSD has to be safe for every student and worker to protect the communities we live in. Without the necessary safety protocols that we are negotiating for in place, we are all at risk,” said Karla Faucett, SEIU 1021 SCUSD Chapter President.

In the midst of reopening schools, at least five positive cases have already been reported. Meanwhile, classified workers are calling for basic in-person safety standards as part of the health and safety agreement like N95 masks for workers with proper fitting, consistent social distancing standards rather than conflicting distancing standards that prevent safe interactions, and protective barriers in spaces where social distancing is not possible.

On the heels of the vote, SEIU 1021 SCUSD Chapter leadership promptly requested new bargaining dates in an attempt to reach an agreement with the District around baseline health and safety precautions for immediately re-opening schools.