Last spring, Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) classified staff and educators went on strike together for 12 days as district administration refused to take urgent action to address its severe staffing crisis.

Before and during the strike, bus drivers were among the most vocal about the toll the staffing crisis — and the district’s low wages — was taking on SCUSD students and their families were the school bus drivers. Turnover and vacancy rates were so high that bus drivers routinely had to double up routes. Children were getting to school late or, in extreme cases, were sometimes left waiting at bus stops because there simply were not enough drivers to pick them up.

As part of the strike settlement, district administration agreed to negotiate an equity adjustment for bus drivers ahead of other classifications also getting class and compensation studies in light of their extraordinary staff shortage. After considerable delays from district administration, the SEIU 1021 SCUSD bargaining team went back to the table early this year, and last week were able to reach an agreement that will immediately lift bus drivers out of poverty.

Casondra Wills, a bus driver who has worked for SCUSD for 27 years and who shared her story through the media many times before and during the strike, said, “I am so grateful for the outcome for transportation. I now have the opportunity to resign from my second job and give my ailing husband more of my time. I thank everyone on our bargaining team who stood up for us and helped us get this agreement.”

Some highlights of the agreement include:

• 26-54% raises for all bus drivers, with a 10% raise between each step
• Current employees with at more than 15 years in district move to step 3 immediately ($27.12) — an immediate increase of $7.67 an hour
• Current employees with less than 15 years start at step 2 ($24.66) — an immediate increase of $5.96 an hour
• New hires start at step 1 
• Step 1 increases to $22.42 (from $17.80)
• Increased out-of-class pay for other employees who volunteer to drive school bus
• Retroactive to Dec. 1, 2022

“This is the most significant raise SCUSD classified staff have ever won,” said SEIU 1021 Executive Board Member and SCUSD Chapter President Karla Faucett. “It’s a phenomenal agreement that will really help the District compete with neighboring districts, the private sector, and public transit for drivers.

“Our bargaining team was committed to reaching an agreement that would lift wages enough to stop the exodus of bus drivers and make sure every SCUSD student can get to school on time every day. Our bus drivers were very outspoken about the issues they’re facing on the job, and their militancy has really paid off.

“Additionally, we had fantastic support from our allies on the school board, including the three new ones we endorsed and knocked on doors for — Jasjit Singh, Tara Jeane, and Taylor Kenyatta — as well as our those who have been our allies – Lavinia Grace Phillips and Chinua Rhodes. They held Superintendent Aguilar accountable to make sure it got done. Jasjit Singh even came to one of our bargaining sessions and always wanted to hear from us how it was going and what we needed. We are thankful for their help. It really goes to show the difference elections can make for working people!”