Madera teachers say they’re underpaid and prepared to go on strike
Teachers in the Madera Unified School District say they’re prepared to go on strike as contract negotiations with the school district remain at an impasse.
Leaders of the Madera Unified Teachers Association, the district’s teachers union, said they want the district to raise teacher pay, arguing their compensation lags behind neighboring school districts. Madera Unified officials say declining student enrollment has placed financial stress on the district, which made a final contract offer that would raise teachers’ base salaries by 4%
Educators demonstrated Wednesday morning to show that they’re ready to strike, as they say they’re losing colleagues to neighboring districts that offer better pay.
The Madera Unified Teachers Association organized the demonstrations, which union president David Holder said took place at all district sites.
Holder said negotiations have been taking place for nearly a year, and they’re currently at an impasse. The district and union are headed to mediation later this month, and if they can’t find common ground, they’ll head into a “fact-finding phase” before union members strike
Should it reach that point, representative Marisela Rivera said the union anticipates striking in February or March.
“We’ve been working for a whole year without a contract, so we asked the district for a new contract, and what they’re offering is just less than what the other districts around us are getting,” said Rivera. “We want them to put more money into the classrooms.”
Unified school districts in California are required to put 55% of their budget toward teacher salaries, though districts can petition for an exemption.
MUTA leaders say the district received an exemption from the state by including incorrect information about teacher salaries on the form. Holder outlined this concern in two letters addressed to Tricia Potzman, Madera County Superintendent of Schools, in September and October.
The Madera County Superintendent of Schools office did not immediately respond to The Bee’s request for comment.
Madera Unified spokesperson George Garnica did not comment on the union’s allegations of using false salary information to receive the 55% waiver. However, he said the district’s final offer was a 4% base salary increase, while the union’s final offer is an 8% salary increase.
Additionally, Garnica said district enrollment has decreased by about 500 students since 2021, though Madera Unified has added about 315 staff positions over the same period.
“Madera Unified remains fully engaged in the collective bargaining process and is committed to reaching an agreement that is fair, fiscally responsible, and sustainable,” the district said in a statement. “We value our teachers and the essential role they play in student success, while also ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources and long-term stability for the district.”
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM.
