Sacramento Teachers Union, District Reach Deal; Strike Averted

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The latest on contract talks between Sacramento teachers and the school district:

1:03 p.m.

An agreement has been reached between the two sides, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced at a press conference early Monday afternoon.

The new contract is a three-year deal between the Sacramento teachers union and the Sacramento City Unified School District.

The agreement averts a teacher strike that would have started on Wednesday.

The agreement reach is an 11 percent increase for teachers over three years. A new plan to extend student services, including mental health services and working on reduction in class sizes, is also part of the agreement.

Teachers say the deal may not have happened had Mayor Steinberg not stepped in to help mediate the negotiations.

Steinberg reportedly worked with both sides all weekend and an agreement was reached Sunday afternooon.

6:54 a.m.

There is still no deal between Sacramento teachers and the school district – and that could have instructors walking off the job as early as Wednesday.

Tensions have been growing between the teachers union and the Sacramento City Unified School District with contract negotiations over pay increases, reduced class sizes and improved working conditions.

The district is offering a $25 million contract offer.

This weekend, negotiators from both sides headed to the bargaining table hoping to come to an agreement.

The district has been scrambling to find emergency replacements to keep schools open if a strike should occur. But if no deal is reached, there will be a strike Wednesday – the first since 1989.

About 47,000 students would be affected by the strike.