Oakland teachers stage unauthorized walkout as contract talks hit impasse

Skyline High School teacher Donna Salonga yells into a bullhorn to motivate teachers on a picket line in front of Oakland Technical High School before a march to school district offices in a one day walkout to warn administrators of a possible strike if their contract demands aren't met in Oakland, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. less Skyline High School teacher Donna Salonga yells into a bullhorn to motivate teachers on a picket line in front of Oakland Technical High School before a march to school district offices in a one day walkout to ... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Oakland teachers stage unauthorized walkout as contract talks hit impasse 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Hundreds of Oakland teachers called in sick or took a personal day Friday to rally in front of school district offices and demand a contract that includes higher salaries and smaller class sizes. Students, saying they are tired of seeing their good, qualified teachers leave for districts with higher pay or a lower cost of living, joined them.

The group gathered outside Oakland Technical High School on Friday morning armed with signs, banners, megaphones and drums to call attention to school closures and the rising cost of living, which teachers say is outpacing their wages.

The demonstration is not sanctioned by the Oakland Education Association, but teachers said they want to send a message to Oakland Unified School District that unless the district makes a better offer, they could strike.

District superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell, in a letter Thursday afternoon to parents and the community, emphasized her desire to accommodate the teachers’ requests and avoid a strike.

“We are working diligently to avoid the disruption to our students’ lives. Like you, we would much rather see our teachers fostering learning in the classroom than walking a picket line,” she said.

In a letter to teachers Tuesday, the district warned that participation in the wildcat walkout could be punished with docked pay.

In December, about 100 teachers called in sick in a similar demonstration and were subsequently docked a paycheck.

Several districts across the country have seen teachers strike in the past year, most recently in Los Angeles, where thousands, striking since Monday, are demanding pay raises, smaller class sizes and more support staff.

Most of the walkouts in other states ended once local or state governments conceded to the teachers’ requests. In West Virginia, a statewide teacher strike ended after two weeks, when the governor in March signed a 5 percent pay raise bill. Two months later, teachers in Arizona walked out for five days to protest poor school funding and low pay for support staff. They called off the strike when the governor agreed to a plan to raise teacher pay.

Educators in Oakland have been working under an expired contract since July 2017. Last spring, district leadership offered 5 percent wage increase over a few years. Teachers countered with a 12 percent demand, leading to an impasse. Once the district makes a final offer by early February, the teachers’ union could choose to take a strike vote.

Cris Bautista teaches ninth-grade English and history at Oakland Technical High School, and works at Starbucks on the weekend to make ends meet. Bautista wore his barista apron over an Oakland Tech sweatshirt while marching.

“It’s my first year, I could get fired for being out here,” he said. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

The ballooning crowd took to the streets chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, budget cuts have got to go,” and “Education is a right, not just for the rich and white.”

Teachers and students wore sweatshirts emblazoned with their schools’ names and logos, including Oakland Technical High School, Oakland High School, Skyline High School, Fremont High School and Life Academy.

During the 2-mile walk from Oakland Tech to school district offices at 1000 Broadway, the group was greeted by a constant stream of honking horns from cars, buses, taxis and big rigs. Construction workers peered down from high rises. People came out of offices and left coffee shops to watch.

Gathered in front of the district building, teacher after teacher took to the microphone to talk about their overcrowded classrooms, school closures and charter schools encroaching on their resources.

Veronica Liu, a sophomore at Oakland Tech who joined the march, said she’s noticed the effects that low pay can have on her teachers.

“I had a teacher that was constantly late because she lived in Antioch,” Liu, 15, said. “I had another teacher who was homeless.”

While Liu admitted that a teacher strike would disrupt her education, she said, “They’re fighting for a good cause. I say go for it.”

Desiree Turner, an Oakland High math teacher, has taught in the district for 15 years. Turner said she’s willing to risk disciplinary action and participate in the wildcat walkout if it means young teachers can make a living wage.

“They’re living with three and four roommates,” she said. “That’s not right.”

Ashley McBride is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ashleynmcb