7 FEATURE
OPINION
US education department
THE
VOL. 60, NO. 8
10-11 9-12 GRAPHICS
9 CENTERSPREAD
Guide to murals
Multicultural week
Words of the wise
SMOKE SIGNAL MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL
April 16, 2025
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
Investigative report: fUSD & FUDTA Negotiations By Rajorshi Chatterjee, Novak Chen, Kaiwei Parks & Cham Yu Staff Writers
FUSD & FUDTA Negotiation Timeline
FUSD and FUDTA have been engaged in negotiations for a new contract since January 2024, and all efforts at compromise have been at an impasse since November 2024. Mediation by a third-party mediator, appointed by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), has been unable to resolve disagreements on wages, class size, and other issues, resulting in the possibility of a strike occurring as soon as late April. Both parties failed to reach an agreement during the April 7 fact-finding hearing, and FUDTA may legally strike after the fact-finding report is made public on April 15. The Smoke Signal compiled a timeline outlining important events during the negotiations, as of April 11, when this paper went to press.
january 2024 - april 2025
The PERB-appointed arbitrator is expected to have released their fact-finding report to the public. According to FUSD, both parties must meet and confer within 10 days after the report is issued. FUDTA disputes the claim and contends that a strike may be initiated after FUSD imposes its final best offer.
FUDTA and FUSD form negotiating teams and meet to settle on a successor agreement. FUDTA submits 15 proposals, and FUSD offers two.
FUSD Superintendent Larsen announces that schools are to remain open even if a strike is to occur.
2024
FUSD provides an update on the district budget situation with an analysis of FUDTA’s proposals. The presentation outlined a $7 million decrease in Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) funding for the 2024-25 school year.
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The PERB-appointed arbitrator held a fact-finding hearing between FUSD and FUDTA, during which both sides presented arguments for their negotiation targets. The parties were unable to negotiate a compromise.
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FUSD and FUDTA agree to Article 21 Working Conditions, mandating monthly paychecks to all certified employees. FUDTA expresses that a proposed uniform 7-hour workday for all teachers may present hardship, as opposed to the current variance in workday length.
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FUSD and FUDTA agree to Article 16 - Temporary Unit Members. The agreement eliminated regulations on the rehire of certified employees hired for a specific time period.
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FUSD and FUDTA agree to Article 1 Agreement, establishing that the proposed three-year contract, if passed, will last until 2027.
FUSD board approves a new budget for the 2024-25 academic year with a proposed $30 million spending cut.
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The existing three-year contract expires. FUDTA teachers are still not under a contract as of April 2025.
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FUSD and FUDTA agree to Article 30 - Public Complaints, shortening the complaint process to four steps after lobbying efforts from the Mission Possible Parent and Faculty Association (MPPFA).
A record number of FUDTA members voted to authorize the executive board to call a strike if deemed necessary, by an overwhelming vote of 93%.
FUSD Board of Education unanimously appoints Zach Larsen as the new FUSD superintendent, following the resignation of former Superintendent Erik Burmeister.
FUDTA and FUSD are engaged in the last mediation meeting as negotiations move to the fact-finding phase.
2025 Proposed budget reduction is revised down from $30 million to $24.7 million.
FUSD and FUDTA agree to Article 9 - Transfers, Reassignments, and Surplussing, allowing long-term substitutes to be hired. Both parties jointly declared an impasse, and the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) soon appointed a mediator that will begin facilitating mediation efforts. Mediation meetings are confidential. Read more about the recent FUSD budget deficit updates on Page 2. PHOTO COURTESY KNUT HEBSTREIT. GRAPHICS BY NEWS EDITOR CATHERINE QIN
ONLINE
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ALBUM REVIEW: BUZZKILL Rising singer-songwriter Lyn Lapid is releasing an upcoming album, which will offer a fresh take on her signature sound. Fans predict the album will blend pop, R&B, and alternative elements. Read the Smoke Signal’s review online.
DINE WITH A SCIENTIST On April 12, the American Association of University Women will be collaborating with Irvington High school Girls in STEM club to allow high school students to sit down and have dinner with accomplished and experienced scientists.
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