LAUSD strike update: No deal yet; on the weekend, talks to avoid school closures
Union talks are scheduled for the weekend as efforts continue to prevent a Tuesday strike that will close all schools operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Meanwhile, the district has released details of plans to help students and families during the visit.
Although LA Unified has settled with five labor unions, three major contracts remain — covering about 70,000 of the district’s 83,300 employees and all college employees.
The unions are planning a three-fold strike if an agreement is not reached:
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), representing approximately 37,000 teachers, nurses, counselors, psychologists and librarians.
Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union, represents approximately 30,000 teachers, campus assistants, gardeners, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and technology support workers.
The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA), which represents approximately 3,000 principals and assistants – all with teaching degrees – in one unit and, in a separate unit, various middle managers without teaching credentials.
Each union contract is different. It is not clear what will happen if one or two unions do not settle. But judging by the union’s statements of solidarity, it seems that the three will respect each other’s record lines. Even five stable unions may respect picket lines. Unions include school workers, factory and restaurant managers, building tradesmen and school police.
Recent union updates have shown progress, but nothing to indicate a strike will be prevented.
Information for teachers
UTLA has a large group discussion model that includes about 150 participants. The district sends about 10 people, who also have a role to negotiate with other unions. Meetings are usually held in an empty but functional meeting room in the union’s headquarters building in Koreatown.
On Wednesday, the groups met from 8 am to 10 pm The discussions are scheduled to continue on Saturday at 8:30 am.
In the district’s newly released proposal, LA Unified offered a one-time 3% bonus for the current school year, then a permanent 4% increase on July 1, another 4% on Jan. 1, 2027, and 2% more on Jan. 1, 2028. Any delay in the increase would save money for LA Unified.
The union pushed for a different approach. It calls for automatic raises for existing teachers based on years of experience and additional education credits. The union also wants to push the annual salary for a beginning teacher from $68,695 to $77,670, which is a 13% jump.
UTLA describes its proposal as giving union members an average 17% raise. The money is needed to offset the impact of inflation in an already high-cost region, the union said.
District officials said they would accept an automatic promotion if it were organized in a cost-effective manner.
99 local update
The two sides met on Thursday and the union posted an update on the talks:
“LAUSD’s request is WRONG. Local 99 members are struggling.
Details about the proposals are harder to come by than UTLA – which often posts important developments.
Members of Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union have been working under contract terms that expire as of June 30, 2024, and include some low-wage regional workers.
In its submissions, the district describes its contribution as 13% over three years. The union wants more, and terms vary by job.
Local 99 also wants stable work schedules because many of its members have had their hours reduced due to budget cuts. In some cases, these workers fall below the required hours limit to qualify for health benefits. The association says the salary of its members is thirty five thousand dollars ($35,000) per year.
Local 99 has announced that it will coordinate the distribution of food boxes to members in need. The food distribution will take place “after strike demonstrations” in downtown Molina Grand Park next Tuesday and Friday.
“The amount is limited,” the union noted. “We encourage you to register and come prepared – for example, bring a cart to carry the supplies.”
Review with management
Negotiations are ongoing.
In a recent update, AALA/Teamsters 2010 said it wants a 7% increase this school year and 6% next year. The union described the region as 4% and 4%.
“This is not happening yet,” the union warned members, “not with the rising cost of living, not with increased workloads, not with salaried managers not getting overtime or extra compensation for overtime. We’re close – but wages must reflect the value of our work.”
Orders for families
LA Unified families were beginning to wonder when the district would begin sending information to parents “in the event of a strike.” Some parents interviewed by The Times on Wednesday were unaware that there was a strike and would have to make arrangements for childcare.
Parents interviewed at noon on Thursday said they received a message from the district about making sure their students have computers at home, but there was no news about child care or food distribution or discussions.
The district on Thursday posted lists of food distribution centers and community “child guidance” centers that can accommodate a limited number of children.
Children with moderate to severe disabilities cannot be admitted. And children under 4 cannot.
