Strike Averted -- District and Union Reach Agreement

By Nicole Achs Freeling
GreatSchools.net Correspondent

In the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, after meeting in closed session from 5:30 p.m. the night before, the district reached a "tentative" agreement with SEIU Local 790, the union representing secretaries, custodians and cafeteria workers. "There will be no strike," a joyous if exhausted Eric Mar told a reporter at 3:30 Wednesday morning. "We did the impossible." Mar said he could not reveal details of the agreement, which would be announced at an upcoming press conference.

The union had announced Tuesday it would commence a strike Thursday. District officials said they had been getting credible information that most teachers and bus drivers would honor the strike and, with trouble finding adequate substitutes, the board was considering closing the schools to students to hold impromptu "staff development days."

Mar credited the efforts of the office of Mayor Gavin Newsom in helping broker the deal. Numerous top officials, including City Controller Ed Harrington, worked all night with the district and SEIU, ferrying proposals between the parties in a sort-of shuttle diplomacy.