RICHMOND — As West Contra Costa County educators prepare to begin striking Thursday, district leadership have reacted with a mix of concern for students and support for staff.

Picket lines will begin forming outside all West Contra Costa Unified School District campuses Thursday, 45 minutes before the first bell rings, United Teachers of Richmond announced Monday evening.

The union expects all of its roughly 1,400 members will be out in support of the strike, given that 98% of members voted in favor of the action if they weren’t offered what they believe would be a fair contract.

“Striking is the last resort — we want to teach. But we know this truth: The status quo is failing our students,” United Teachers of Richmond President Francisco Ortiz said in a statement.

Despite the planned

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