While the union does not support the strike, Oakland Education Association President Keith Brown said he supports the striking teachers' message, and that he understands the urgency of their demands.

"We understand the frustration of our members at the district," said Brown. "They're tired of the disrespect from the district, and they're tired of being the lowest-paid teachers in Alameda County."

According to science teacher Suzi LeBaron, at least 75 of Oakland High School's 90 teachers took part in Monday's work stoppage.

'What we are doing today is a form of teaching. We are showing our students through our example what you can do when somebody is not treating you fairly.' Suzi LeBaron, Oakland High science teacher

"I think this is the beginning of escalating action," LeBaron said. "The school knows exactly what it looks like without us here. When we don't show up to do the thing that we love to do, it's a very concentrated impactful message."

In advance of the strike, Oakland High School Principal Matin Abdel said school would stay open. “We are prepared to create a safe and productive space for our students,” Abdel said.

The striking teachers told the district of their plans in advance. The school hired substitutes and consolidated classes throughout the day.

"We did our due diligence," LeBaron said. "We chose a date that we thought would cause the least interference in the students' semester. We gave fair warning to our principal. We've done everything we could do to make sure parents knew they had the choice to come join us, or keep their kids home from school, or send their kids to school to have a marginal school day."

LeBaron said she also talked to her students about the strike, and about what Oakland High teachers are fighting for.

"I think every teacher here today has been very upfront with their students about where the exact issues are. My senior class and I looked at comparative salaries of the different districts around the area and they were horrified. What we are doing today is a form of teaching. We are showing our students through our example what you can do when somebody is not treating you fairly."