Los Angeles schools could close for 3 days as thousands of teachers, staff set to strike
Tens of thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District workers are set to strike for three days next week over a contract stalemate, union leaders announced Wednesday, and teachers will join them, potentially the second in the nation. will close the school system larger than
Until an agreement is reached, the strike was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 21. The announcement was made at a rally by the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 30,000 teachers’ aides, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other support staff.
United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing 35,000 teachers, counselors and other staff, expressed solidarity.
Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“Teachers will join our union sisters,” a UTLA tweet said.
Teachers A six-day strike. 2019 over salary and contract issues but schools remain open.
Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said in an email to parents Monday that this time, schools will likely be closed and virtual learning will not be accessible.
“We will have no way of ensuring a safe and secure environment in which teaching and learning can take place,” Carvalho said.
Carvalho also accused the union of refusing to negotiate.
“Let’s go to the table,” Carvalho said at a news conference on Wednesday. “Let’s be at the table, whatever the time, whatever the place, until there’s a solution.”
The district has over 500,000 students. It serves all or part of Los Angeles and 25 other cities and unincorporated county areas.
SEIU members have been working without a contract since June 2020, and the teachers’ contract expires in June 2022. The unions decided last week to stop accepting extensions to their contracts.
SEIU says district support staff earn, on average, about $25,000 a year and many live in poverty as LA County struggles with inflation and high housing costs.
The SEUI is demanding a 30% wage hike for its workers across the board. According to CBS Los Angeles, while LAUSD says it has offered a 10% raise, with another 9% to be provided over time.
UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz said in a statement Wednesday, “Despite LAUSD having the nation’s largest school budget and largest reserves, teachers and essential school workers are struggling to support their families and live in these communities. fighting for those they work for.” . “To add insult to injury, the District has chosen to violate the workers’ legal rights, resulting in an unfair labor strike.”