Contract Matters: At an Impasse

In May, the teachers’ union (OEA) declared impasse in their contract negotiations with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).

Impasse means that at least one side of negotiators believes they are deadlocked and will not be able to reach an agreement. The Public Employees Relation Board (PERB)  has agreed to begin the process of impasse and has appointed a mediator to help OUSD and OEA come to a tentative agreement.

The first mediation session will be on August 31. Mediation does not have a specific timeline and can end in two ways: 1. The OUSD and OEA could come to a tentative agreement on the next contract. 2. Either party, or the mediator, could decide that mediation is not working and then send the case to fact-finding. Check out more on impasse and fact finding in the infographic below.