Image from FUDTA.
The school board and FUDTA, the teachers’ union, have spent months negotiating a new contract, but currently, negotiations are at an impasse. Recently, 93% of the FUDTA membership voted to authorize a strike, which cannot legally start until the results of the fact-finding meeting are officially released, which happened on April 16th. As of April 17, 2025, the district and the union have reviewed the fact-finding report, which issued a series of recommendations, including a salary increase that is greater than what the district was previously offering, though still less than what the union has asked for. The district has accepted the recommendations, while, at this time, the union has not. Therefore, a strike could still occur, and there are many questions about what would happen if there is one.
The possibility of a strike is shrouded in confusion and opacity, and one of the biggest questions that is looming on the minds of students, parents and even teachers is how long the strike would last. Stephen Fish, WHS English teacher and FUDTA representative, says “[The strike would] last as long as the district wants it to last. They have the power to meet FUDTA’s demands, they just have to do it. We are currently prepared to hold out as long as is necessary for them to come to their senses. We are hoping, for everyone’s sake, that that happens soon.”
Another burning question for the WHS student body is whether or not students will have to attend school during a strike. FUSD Public Information Officer Barth Paine clarified, “Fremont Unified will keep schools open and safe for students. FUSD will provide lesson plans and core subject curriculum that will be taught each day during a strike. Students who attend school during a strike will receive both academic and attendance credit.” Rumors have been circulating that spring break may be extended due to the strike, and, more distressingly, that students will be forced to repeat a year because of the teachers not being able to input their grades. Mr. Paine clarified both of these rumors to be false. Additionally, AP testing will still be conducted if the strike occurs at the same time.
But what are the specific issues that FUDTA and the school board have not been able to agree on? “The overarching problem is that FUDTA claims that the FUSD is monetarily able to meet their demands, but that they have not yet done so,” said Mr. Fish. “FUSD is currently sitting on a budget surplus of $75 million in unrestricted funds, $120 million if we include restricted funds. This is far larger than necessary. At the same time, teacher pay, as a percentage of the overall FUSD budget, has steadily declined. This means teacher salaries in Fremont have not kept pace with inflation and teachers are not being given their fair share of the pie, so to speak.”
“Additionally, teachers in Fremont do not receive any health care benefits,” Fish continued. “These two issues combined put FUSD at a severe disadvantage compared to several neighboring school districts when it comes to attracting and hiring new, highly talented and experienced teachers. FUDTA is standing up to this by demanding fair pay and benefits for educators, along with smaller class sizes and more funding for special education staff so that we can provide the best possible educational environment for Fremont students for years to come.”
Mr. Paine had a different view on the matter of the FUSD’s surplus. “Some interpretations of the surplus, both size and the availability, can make it seem like the district has a large ‘savings account’,” he remarked. “We are working on a chart to help explain this and will send it to you when available. The budget planning has set aside over $15 million for negotiations. Another important factor is we are in a deficit spending situation, so paying out more than the revenue we receive each year, and that eats away at our surplus as well.”
A mother of two FUSD students, who did not wish to be named, shared her opinion on this matter. “I fully and completely support the teachers,” she said. “The upcoming strike may impact my children’s learning for a few days, but I believe that FUDTA is entirely justified in standing up for the rights they rightfully deserve. While a short-term disruption in the classroom might seem inconvenient, it is important to recognize that the issues being raised are significant and the strike is ultimately about creating a better, more sustainable learning environment—which benefits both students and teachers in the long run.”
“FUDTA’s demands are justified, especially when you consider the rising costs of healthcare and the increasing expenses tied to everyday living over the past few years,” she continued. “Teachers deserve to have access to free and reliable healthcare so that they can focus their energy and attention on educating our children, rather than worrying about how to cover medical bills. In addition, one of their other key demands—smaller class sizes—is something that directly benefits students like my children, as it allows teachers to provide more personalized attention, support, and guidance to each individual student.”
Finally, she remarked, “I have complete trust that if a situation ever arises in school where my child is at risk of harm, their teachers would step in and do everything in their power to protect them. Teachers consistently show care and dedication to their students’ safety and well-being, both inside and outside the classroom. It is only fair, then, that we as parents and community members stand in solidarity with them and wish the very best for the teachers who work so hard to support and protect our children every day.”
From a student’s perspective, Varin Parekh, a freshman at American High School, took a more neutral approach to the situation. He remarked, “The way I see it, FUDTA can make demands, but they must be willing to compromise. It is no secret FUSD has been losing money, with multiple schools in this district being in a substantial deficit. In that sense, it is imperative to be pragmatic.”
“The ideal solution is sustainable,” Parekh continued. “Recall that a few decades ago, the teachers signed away their health insurance for a five percent pay increase. The cost of health insurance has risen dramatically since. So, FUDTA’s best bet is to focus their bargaining efforts on health insurance, as that would allow more of their actual salary to be used on other expenses.”
Parekh also addressed how he thought a strike would impact the larger community. “Our lessons will be delayed and with finals around the corner, this will cause major stress to students,” he said. “I also sympathize with the parents. Some of them can’t take care of their kids while at work, and this will hurt the younger students substantially. Also, poorer families need the free meals from school lunches to feed their kids… a disappointingly small amount of money has been allocated towards school lunches.”
“Of course, it is disappointing that FUSD is one of the only employers that don’t provide health coverage, something that most corporations do,” Parekh concluded. “In other countries, teachers have full benefits and are paid a much higher salary.”
The situation between FUDTA and FUSD remains muddled and complicated. No matter what happens, a resolution will have to be reached in the future, and one can only hope that it will be a positive solution for everyone.
Arjun Mathur is a freshman at Washington High School. He was born in Fremont and has lived here for his whole life. This is his first year at the Hatchet, and he’s interested in writing an opinions column or writing about the arts and life in Fremont. In his spare time, Arjun enjoys reading books, writing essays, watching YouTube, playing video games, talking to his friends, and listening to music. In the future, he wants to go to college, and become a history teacher or do something in psychology.