Teacher Protest Highlights Growing Tensions in FUSD Contract Dispute

By Staff Writers Dhaeshna Booma & Cham Yu

Carrying protest signs and wearing red union apparel, teachers from across FUSD launched a demonstration to demand a new contract at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 12 at the intersection of Mission Boulevard and Palm Avenue. The Fremont Unified District Teachers Association (FUDTA) members congregated along the street corners amid stalled negotiations with the district, which still remain at an impasse after four unsuccessful mediation sessions.

The current round of negotiations has reached a deadlock on seven major contract articles, including class size, healthcare benefits, and salary increases. FUSD has proposed two salary adjustments: a one-time 3.5% increase to teachers’ current base salary, plus a permanent 1.5% raise that would be applied to paychecks starting from July 1, 2024, even though that date has already passed. FUDTA seeks a 5% permanent raise for each of the next three years, a proposal the district estimates would cost $41 million.

After 26 unsuccessful negotiation sessions since Jan. 29, 2024, the parties entered state-mandated mediation in December 2024.  The mediator has now certified the two parties to fact-finding, where both sides will present evidence, such as financial statements and other relevant documents, before a neutral panel. If this process again ends in disagreement, the district could impose its last best offer, after which the union may legally strike. 

Among educators’ primary concerns is the need for adequate staffing and support across all programs. “Our special education teachers who are teaching our most vulnerable do not have the support they need. They are spread far too thin,” Art Teacher Lena Barncord said. Other key union demands include implementing firm caps on secondary class sizes, expanding healthcare coverage to include dental benefits, and establishing a 425 to one student-to-counselor ratio across all grade levels. The district cites significant financial challenges in meeting these demands, particularly as pandemic-era federal and state funding expires and enrollment continues to decline. 

As negotiations stretch into their second month of impasse, frustration among faculty continues to grow. District officials maintain their commitment to reaching an agreement that supports staff while ensuring fiscal sustainability, but teachers report growing gaps in essential services under outdated contract terms. 

The resolution of this contract dispute will determine not only immediate working conditions and compensation for educators, but also shape the future of public education in Fremont.  Meanwhile, teachers plan to continue their advocacy efforts until an agreement is reached, with FUDTA members pushing to secure what they view as necessary improvements to their contracts and the overall educational environment for their students.