Mayor Dan Lurie and Rep. Nancy Pelosi begged the union not to, but for the first time in nearly 50 years, teachers in San Francisco have gone on strike. The California Teachers Association isn’t much concerned about the children, so some 6,000 teachers are striking for more pay and benefits.

It’s all like a rolling blackout. San Diego teachers will strike for one day this month, and United Teachers Los Angeles authorized a strike last month. Two dozen other districts are at an impasse over contracts.

Where do the unions think the money is going to come from to pay for higher salaries and benefits? Rich people. According to Politico, “Labor groups are working to extend the Proposition 55 millionaire’s tax, which helps fund schools, and they’re connecting the push to the strikes.”

But the millionaires and billionaires are leaving California (which ALREADY has the highest income tax rate). The golden geese have already left, so where will the money come from?

There’s no doubt many young teachers deserve a raise, but their union contracts prohibit them being paid on the basis of merit. Instead much of the money flows to six-figure benefit packages and well-paid administrators.

A state-mandated neutral third party reported last month that the SF union’s demands for a 9% wage hike and more health benefits was excessive. The school district faces a $102 million deficit.

Schools used to be about education. Now, in many cities they are becoming war zones in which left-wing unions use students as hostages in their battle for more political power and money.