About 1,500 teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District took to the picket lines on Thursday, striking over pay, benefits and staffing.

Members of the United Teachers of Richmond, which represents the educators, began striking at the district's 56 school sites. The district serves about 28,000 students in the cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules and in several surrounding communities.

West Contra Costa Unified is proposing a 3% salary increase as its latest offer, but the teachers are rejecting the proposal, saying it is too low.

In addition, teachers said classes are overcrowded and that 71 classrooms in the district lacked a permanent teacher, relying on substitutes. Issues involving special education programs and support for teachers from overseas

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