The Oakland Education Association, whose teachers have been working without a contract since July 2017, is seeking a 12-percent rise in teacher salary, an increase in counselors and nurses in schools, and a reduction in class size. The Oakland Unified School District is offering a 7.5-percent raise, to be implemented during a three-year period, and a 1.5-percent bonus dating to the expiration of the previous contract.

The striking teachers picketed their schools in the morning and then attended a rally at city hall at midday. The 86 affected schools, with about 26,000 students, remained open.

Oakland is the latest large American city to see a teachers strike in 2019. Another California city, Los Angeles, was the scene of a much larger strike in late January. Less than two weeks ago, teachers in Denver picketed their workplaces for four days before agreeing to a new pay scheme.

• Teachers in Arizona won some concessions after a six-day walkout.
• Kentucky lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of spending bills providing more funds for teachers.
• Teachers in Oklahoma won some concessions but ended a nine-day strike without gaining more.