Oakland’s lowest-paid school workers are on the verge of a major pay bump. A tentative contract between Oakland Unified and SEIU Local 1021 would raise the district’s minimum wage for support staff to $25 per hour and deliver about 16% in total raises over two years. The agreement covers roughly 1,000 classified workers, from library technicians and attendance specialists to early literacy tutors and newcomer learning assistants, and it includes retroactive pay along with new workplace protections. The deal still needs formal approval from the Oakland school board and a review by the Alameda County Office of Education before any of the raises show up on paychecks.
What the deal would pay
According to SEIU Local 1021, members voted by a wide margin to back a contract that the union says will provide a 16% wage increase over the life of the agreement and lock in a $25-per-hour minimum for the lowest-paid job classifications. The union’s summary also points to new limits on outsourcing, the creation of a summer assistance program for 10-month employees, and added protections around scheduling and the use of AI. SEIU is casting the tentative deal as a key step toward stabilizing staffing at school sites after years of churn.
Who stands to gain
Oaklandside reports that Local 1021 represents about 1,000 Oakland Unified workers across dozens of roles, and many of those positions were well below the new $25 floor before this agreement. The outlet notes that early literacy tutors previously earned roughly $17.34 to about $20 per hour, newcomer learning assistants made between about $34,000 and $46,000 annually, and instructional support specialists earned roughly $22 to $30 per hour. Oaklandside also reports that the first round of raises would be retroactive to July 1, 2025, with another 2% increase scheduled for July 1. If anyone is still below $25 per hour after those raises, their pay would be adjusted up to the new minimum by January 1, 2027.
Why $25 still leaves gaps
Even with a $25 hourly floor, many Oakland workers will still fall short of what it takes to make ends meet in the East Bay. Per the Living Wage Calculator, a single adult in Alameda County needs about $29.95 per hour to cover basic expenses, and a single parent with one child needs nearly $58 per hour. Those estimates reflect steep local housing and child care costs, and advocates point to them as evidence that the new minimum is a meaningful step up, but not enough to fully cover the typical household budget.
Next steps and broader context
Oaklandside notes that the tentative agreement must still be ratified by the school board and submitted to the Alameda County Office of Education for an affordability review before it becomes binding. The district and the union also agreed to keep talking through implementation details, including how a summer assistance program will operate for 10-month staff, and to meet on whether district-owned property might be used for affordable or workforce housing tied to long-term retention. The support staff deal is moving forward while negotiations with the Oakland Education Association remain separate after an impasse in December, a split track that could influence how quickly the board moves.
In a statement cited by SEIU Local 1021, chapter president Trish Belenson called the tentative agreement a fair and dignified contract that sets a $25/hour minimum. Union leaders say the raises and new contract language should help reduce turnover and keep experienced staff in Oakland schools.
