In another example of workers uniting to achieve victory, Dixon Unified School District (DUSD) classified employees ratified a hard-fought tentative agreement on May 31, with 97% of voting members voting YES.

Following a historic vote to authorize a strike on May 3 and then a rally May 18 at the Dixon school board meeting, where classified staff and allies demanded the district address high turnover and short staffing caused by inadequate wages, the once largely inflexible board seems to have experienced a wake-up call.

After meeting again at the bargaining table, the school board finally agreed to worker demands on May 31.

The new agreement includes an additional 3% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022; a $1000 one-time lump sum payment to all classified employees employed during the 2022-2023 school year; a $3000 retention stipend for the 2022-2023 school year for all classified employees; a new holiday (Juneteenth); and more.

“This contract is a huge step toward ensuring we have the best staff available for our students. This will help retain the amazing classified employees we currently have and recruit new staff to help alleviate our understaffing issues,” said SEIU 1021 Dixon Chapter President Andrew Rathjen, a paraprofessional for the district. ”I am very grateful to my fellow union members for being so engaged and standing up and speaking out! I would also like to thank the Dixon USD school board for joining us in reaching the best agreement for our community.”

The school board is expected to ratify the agreement on June 15.

Check out this great coverage of their strike vote and picket in the Vacaville Reporter!