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West Contra Costa Unified School District and the teachers union, United Teachers of Richmond (UTR), have been trying to reach an agreement since February . Teachers have been working under an expired contract since June.

The union is asking for a 10 percent raise over two years, but the district is offering only a two percent raise with slightly better healthcare coverage.

Francisco Ortiz, president of UTR, says a strike “seems very likely.”

"We're not at the brink of a strike because educators didn't speak up," he said in a phone call with KALW. "We're here right now because leadership has refused to listen."

In addition to a salary raise, teachers say the district needs to improve special education programming and address staffing shortages.

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