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PHOTOS: Oakland Teachers Strike Over Wages, Classroom Conditions

KQED News Staff
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Striking teachers and their supporters gather to march down Broadway to the central school district office on Feb. 21, 2019. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)

Thousands of teachers in Oakland went on strike Thursday morning, picketing outside schools across the city after negotiations between the teachers union and the district stagnated over calls for wage increases and smaller classroom sizes.

To avoid crossing picket lines, some Oakland parents have come up with alternative schooling options. That includes bringing students to "solidarity schools" where students can be supervised by parent volunteers and receive free breakfast and lunch.

Both sides plan to return to the bargaining table on Friday.

Teachers, students and supporters picket outside Oakland Technical High School on Feb. 21, 2019. (Stephanie Lister/KQED)
Students at Oakland Technical High School on Feb. 21, 2019, join in the picket line by getting passing cars to honk in solidarity. (Stephanie Lister/KQED)
Beverly Berning, a French teacher at Oakland Technical High School, sits on the front steps of the school on Feb. 21, 2019. (Stephanie Lister/KQED)
W. Kamau Bell shows his support for the Oakland teachers strike.
W. Kamau Bell shows his support for the Oakland teachers strike. (Sam Lefebvre/KQED)
Striking teachers and supporters picket outside Lincoln Elementary School in Oakland on Feb. 21, 2019.
Striking teachers and supporters picket outside Lincoln Elementary School in Oakland on Feb. 21, 2019. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
Gesine Cotteral, right, and Carla Aiello picket outside Lincoln Elementary School on Feb. 21, 2019. Cotteral has taught in OUSD for 25 years and four years at Lincoln. “We are here because of a massive exodus of teachers leaving schools who can’t afford to live in Oakland. We had four teachers leave last year ... and then students need support staff, special ed teachers and nurses.” (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
"I’m here for better pay, smaller class sizes and a moratorium on charter schools,” said Nicole Kusper, a 3rd-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Oakland.
"I’m here for better pay, smaller class sizes and a moratorium on charter schools,” said Nicole Kusper, a third-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Oakland. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
Oakland Tech students hold a banner at rally supporting striking teachers at City Hall on Feb. 21, 2019. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
Teachers on strike gather at Oakland City Hall for a rally.
Teachers on strike gather at Oakland City Hall for a rally. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
President of the Oakland Education Association teachers' union Keith Brown leads chant, “get up get down, Oakland is a union town” during a rally in front of city hall.
President of the Oakland Education Association teachers union, Keith Brown, leads chant, “Get up, get down, Oakland is a union town,” during a rally in front of City Hall. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, Liz Ortega, speaks at the Oakland teacher's rally in front of City Hall on Feb. 21, 2019.
Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council Liz Ortega speaks at the Oakland teachers rally in front of City Hall. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
Students from Fremont High School in Oakland support the Oakland teachers strike. (Sheraz Sadiq/KQED)
Activists with 'By Any Means Necessary' march down Franklin Street in downtown Oakland.
Activists with 'By Any Means Necessary' march down Franklin Street in downtown Oakland. (Sam Lefebvre/KQED)
Gabriel Ramirez (left) and Jeffrey Cheung (right) of Unity, a queer skateboarding collective, march down Broadway.
Gabriel Ramirez (left) and Jeffrey Cheung (right) of Unity, a queer skateboarding collective, march down Broadway. (Sam Lefebvre/KQED)

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