LAUSD schools are closed as workers begin a 3-day strike

Teachers have joined tens of thousands of other workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District in a three-day protest over stagnant contract negotiations, which have shut down the country's second-largest school system.

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Members of Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 30,000 teachers' aides, special education assistants, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and other support staff, have started protests at a bus yard and are expected to continue at schools all over the city.

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By morning, amid a continuous downpour, the workers formed picket lines and demanded higher pay and more staff. Some of them carried banners that stated, "Respect Us, We Keep Schools Safe!" More than 500,000 kids from Los Angeles, 25 other cities, and unincorporated county areas attend school in this district.

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Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho asserted that he was ready to meet at any hour of the day or night and accused the union of refusing to engage in negotiations. He claimed that on Monday, a "significant opportunity" was lost.

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"I think we could have prevented this strike. But without people actively conversing with one another, it cannot be prevented," he remarked.

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The district is accused of engaging in misbehavior that has interfered with employees' ability to engage in legally protected union-related activities, according to Local 99, which announced Monday night that it was in discussion with state labor inspectors about the allegations.

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The union issued a statement stating, "We want to be clear that we are not in negotiations with LAUSD. We are still actively participating in the state-led impasse process."

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The statement claimed that those discussions would not prevent a strike.

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About 150 of the district's more than 1,000 schools are expected to remain open throughout the strike. This is due to adult supervision but no instruction, providing students with a place to go. To ease the burden on parents who are now struggling to obtain childcare, dozens of libraries, parks, and "grab and go" locations for students to get lunch are also intended to be open to children.

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In a statement released on Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, "Schools are so much more than just places for learning; they are a safety net for hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles families." "We will make sure to do everything we can to provide the resources our city's families need."

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Workers claimed that their only remaining alternative was to strike.

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Marlee Ostrow, an instructional aide who supported the strike, claimed that a raise was long overdue. The 67-year-old made $11.75 an hour when she was recruited over 20 years ago and now makes roughly $16. She claimed that wasn't enough to keep up with inflation and rising housing costs, and in the meantime, her responsibilities increased from two to five classrooms.

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Ostrow attributes the district's high unemployment rate to the low wages in the area.

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"It's possible to earn more money at Burger King," she said, but no one applied. “The desire to help children is shared by many people, and they shouldn't face consequences for making it their life's work.”

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According to the union, district support staffers make an average of around $25,000 a year. Many of them struggle to make ends meet due to low pay or short work weeks. In addition, they deal with LA County's high housing costs and inflation. The union is demanding a 30% pay raise. A 20% pay increase over two years is desired by teachers.

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In addition to a 3% incentive, the district, according to Carvalho, has promised a multiyear pay rise reaching more than 20%. The superintendent additionally stated to Fox 11 on Monday that the agreement would come with a "huge expansion of healthcare benefits."

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The majority of union members are in favor of the strike.

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While the contract for teachers expires in June 2022, the SEIU has been operating without a contract since June 2020. Last week, the unions voted to cease accepting contract extensions.

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The union for 35,000 teachers, counselors, nurses, and other staff members, United Teachers Los Angeles, expressed support for their fellow workers who are on strike.

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A UTLA tweet stated, "Educators will be joining our union siblings on the picket lines. Also, the district is in negotiations with the teachers' union.”

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Schools were open despite a six-day walkout by teachers in 2019 over pay and contract difficulties.