Natomas teachers have rejected the district's latest contract offer and stayed on the picket line, stretching out the district's first-ever teachers strike that began March 10. Union leaders argue the proposal still does not lock in fully paid family health coverage or pay that keeps up with neighboring districts, while district officials insist they have put forward a strong, fiscally responsible package. In the meantime, classrooms are being staffed with substitutes and administrators as negotiators keep talking.
What teachers are demanding
Union leaders say the district's counteroffer still falls short of core demands for fair pay, fully funded family healthcare and smaller class sizes, according to KCRA. The Natomas Teachers Association, which represents more than 600 educators in the district, voted to authorize a strike after bargaining hit an impasse. Since then, teachers and parents have been picketing and holding rallies in North Natomas while talks continue.
District: offer includes pay bump and full-family option
Natomas Unified maintains its latest proposal includes a 4% salary increase spread over two years and a zero-cost health option for employees, with the district saying it would invest roughly $30,000 per employee who selects family coverage, according to Natomas Unified. District officials also point to an independent fact-finding panel's March 5 report, which they say described the offer as reasonable within Natomas's fiscal realities and warned that the union's push for ongoing fully funded family coverage could create long-term budget risk, according to Natomas Unified.
How classrooms are being affected
The district has kept schools open using substitutes, site administrators and community partners, but parents and teachers say the quality of instruction has been uneven during the walkout, according to CapRadio. The outlet reported that some families have kept children home rather than send them into days of movie-style lessons, and that Natomas picket lines have overlapped with similar actions in nearby Twin Rivers, adding to staffing pressure across the county.
Fact-finding, law and what comes next
Fact-finding is the formal, state-mandated step when negotiations reach an impasse, and the panel's March 5 report lays out recommended contract language and costs while urging both sides to reach a deal to avoid cuts. The public report includes detailed findings on salaries, health benefits, class size and special education staffing, and it outlines the fiscal tradeoffs that Natomas officials say limit a broader health care buy-up, according to the fact-finding report.
For now, both sides say negotiations will continue. Union leaders say they have rejected the district's latest package and will remain on the picket line until key demands are met, while district officials say the offer on the table is substantial and that negotiators are available to meet, as reported by ABC10. This story will be updated when either side announces a new agreement or a formal settlement is reached.
