Modesto Teachers Mediation Ends Without Contract

After 12 months of talks, the Modesto Teachers Association will hold a strike vote Thursday following failed mediation with Modesto City Schools.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Unions

Modesto Teachers Mediation Ends Without Contract

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Modesto Teachers Association and Modesto City Schools ended their final mediation session Friday without a contract agreement. The teachers union will hold a strike vote Thursday.

Why it matters

Modesto teachers are in their third year without a salary increase, and union leaders say pay is not competitive with nearby districts. The outcome could affect pay and class sizes for students and families across the city.

Negotiations lasted 12 months, and the district's latest proposal offers 3% raises both retroactive to July 2025 and for the 2026-27 school year. The teachers union will vote Thursday on whether to strike, but the stub does not say whether that vote will pass.

The players

Modesto Teachers Association

The local union representing Modesto public school teachers in contract negotiations with the district.

Modesto City Schools

The public school district serving the city of Modesto, which made the latest salary proposal to teachers.

The details

The final mediation session ended Friday without a contract. Teachers say pay trails nearby districts and that Modesto schools need smaller class sizes, while the district's offer centers on the 3% increases.

July 2025: Start date of the retroactive 3% salary increase in the district's latest proposal.
Friday: Final mediation session ended without an agreement.
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026: Modesto Teachers Association strike vote scheduled.

Season Trajectory

Fresno Unified nearly struck in 2023 and agreed to a contract less than 24 hours before the planned walkout. Modesto's talks are following a similar path toward a strike vote after a long stalemate.

Students and families in Modesto could see changes to class sizes and teacher pay depending on how the dispute resolves. A strike would disrupt classroom schedules, while a settlement would set pay for the coming school year.

The takeaway

Labor disputes in public schools often hinge on whether salary offers keep pace with nearby districts, and Modesto's strike vote will show whether that gap can be closed before classes are disrupted.