Substitute teachers and union blast Red Rover app and sudden payroll change at SFUSD
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Summary
Substitute teachers, backed by United Educators of San Francisco, testified that the Red Rover app makes finding work unpredictable, and they criticized a last-minute payroll change moving substitute pay from the 5th to the 10th of the month.
A substantial contingent of substitute teachers, several of whom said they have worked for decades, told the board the districtjob-distribution app Red Rover denies reliable access to assignments and forces substitutes into a precarious, gig-like routine. Witnesses described being required to "refresh" constantly, losing assignments in seconds, and receiving inconsistent communications about preferred-substitute lists.
United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) vice president of substitutes Natalie told the board the district told employees Friday that substitute pay would change from the 5th to the 10th of the month, and that labor representatives learned of the change earlier than substitutes themselves. She cited language in the parties' contract and claimed this practice conflicted with expectations that substitutes be paid on the same day as certificated staff. "There is nothing extra about the work that they do," Natalie said. UESF has filed grievances related to payroll, sick pay access and Social Security withholdings dating to 2023-24.
Board members thanked speakers and asked staff for a clearer explanation of the payroll change and an update on Red Rover features such as preferred-substitute lists. Several commissioners urged the superintendent and HR to quickly address payment timing and to restore transparency on substitute sick pay eligibility and technology barriers.
