The Region : Calipatria Teachers Strike

Charging the Calipatria School District with unfair labor practices, about half the district’s 53 teachers walked off the job in what was believed to be the first such strike in Imperial County history. School officials said classes continued as usual, with substitute teachers, district administrators and teacher aides filling in for the strikers. The teachers and the district have been at an impasse for three months in attempts to negotiate a new contract. The district has offered teachers a $625-a-year raise across the board, which represents about a 3% increase. The association has asked for a raise that would fluctuate with teachers’ experience level, but would average about 8.5%.