Oakland teachers authorize strike after latest contract proposal

Oakland’s teachers union voted to authorize a strike on Friday, threatening to walk off the job if the district does not offer a contract with higher wages and address the high turnover plaguing its schools.

The Oakland Education Association reported that while more than 60% of its members cannot afford the average one-bedroom apartment, the school district had failed to offer fair compensation during negotiations over the past year. The union has argued that better pay would help reverse the trend of 400 educators leaving each year.