Members of Mount Diablo Education Association threaten to strike if the district does not meet their demands

Concord, California – Members of the Mount Diablo Education Association almost unanimously agreed to go on strike if they couldn’t come to an agreement with the school district.

92% of those who voted to authorize a strike said they would walk out if the conditions of the agreement were not met.

Around 29,000 students from the cities of Concord, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Pittsburg, and Martinez are enrolled in the district.

As opposed to the district that proposes a 7% raise plus a one-time bonus of 3%, as well as further raises if the district’s budget allows it, the union is asking for a 12.5% increase over the next three years.

A fact-finding group is now looking at both proposals in an effort to come up with a solution that both sides can agree on.

“We all hope that a strike will not become necessary. The fact-finding panel will meet again on Friday, March 18, and may engender discussions that lead to an agreement. If not, MDEA’s executive board will review the report’s non-binding recommendation and make a decision regarding a strike,” MDEA President Anita Johnson said.

The report of the commission will be released later this month.