Fresno Unified classified employees rally over stalled contract, layoff fears

Classified employees represented by SEIU Local 521 gathered Jan. 28 outside Fresno Unified district offices to press for higher pay, better benefits and district transparency as contract talks remain stalled. Workers said they fear budget shortfalls and falling enrollment could lead to layoffs that would disrupt bus routes, cafeterias and school maintenance across Fresno County.

Custodians, bus drivers, grounds and warehouse workers joined cafeteria staff and other classified employees in chants of "Sí se puede" - "yes, we can" - and presented the rally as a protest against both stalled negotiations and what union members called an out-of-touch board decision. Corina Lozoya, identified as a Fresno Unified school bus driver, parent and SEIU member, said, "They are going to take a 113 percent increase while suggesting our jobs, for classified workers, are going to be on the chopping block." Lozoya added, "This is a huge slap in the face to so many of us who have long dedicated ourselves to doing the essential front-line jobs that we love."

Union speakers also warned the trustees' vote to boost their own pay by 113 percent sent a "troubling message" as bargaining continued. Mendez, a union speaker cited in coverage, said, "We all stand together to fight for a fair contract" and added, "What we expect is respect in pay and in benefits. When custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and everyone who contributes to education are thriving, the environment where children learn is better."

Fresno Unified officials said negotiations are confidential and ongoing while emphasizing fiscal caution. Interim Superintendent Bob Nelson framed the district's offers as steps toward balance, saying, "Our responsibility is to make sure we're fiscally responsible - we want balanced compensation with making sure that our kid's needs are met and our district is financially sound." Nelson and district statements described an offer that includes a 3.5-percent salary increase and an increase in health benefit payout from 80 percent to 90 percent, with reduced out-of-pocket costs for employees. The district also described staffing declines tied to reduced post-pandemic enrollment and decreased state funding.

The labor unrest overlaps with separate teacher bargaining in the district. The Fresno Teachers Association has proposed a 7.26 percent pay raise, 100 percent district-paid health care and multimillion-dollar student investments including free laundry service and free clothes and school supplies for students in need. FTA leaders urged urgency in negotiations; one FTA leader said, "We're at a point in negotiations right now where the district has to have a sense of urgency to get this done before the end of the school year," while another FTA voice noted, "Systemic changes in this district have only happened when educators have taken collective action."

Contract talks that began last November are tracking toward a June 30 contract deadline, adding pressure on negotiators. For Fresno families, the stakes are practical: cuts to classified positions would affect transportation, meal service and school cleanliness. With negotiations ongoing, community members can expect more public actions and bargaining updates as the district and unions attempt to resolve differences before the end of the school year.