LAUSD teachers announce potential April strike, while district is making "every effort to avoid a strike"

Teachers with the Los Angeles Unified School District announced plans for a massive April 14 strike if their ongoing negotiations for a new contract do not reach a conclusion. In response, district officials say they believe an agreement can be reached with all labor partners.

Members of the United Teachers of Los Angeles, Service Employees International Union Local 99, and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, an affiliate of Teamsters Local 2010, gathered Wednesday afternoon for a "Fight for LA Rally"  at Grand Park.

Hundreds of teachers, nurses, librarians, counselors, cafeteria workers and other staff members attended the rally, claiming that they've been at the bargaining table with LAUSD officials for more than a year. They say that the district has refused to bring the necessary funds to reach an agreement that makes sense to educators and staff.

"Going on strike is a very difficult decision we don't take lightly. But we are finding ourselves, that the district is putting us in a position where we don't have any other choice but to stand up for what is right for the investments that we need in our schools," UTLA member Gloria Martinez said.

LAUSD Acting Superintendent Andrés E. Chait said during a news conference on Thursday that the public school system is experiencing unprecedented external pressures. These include "the continuing impact of immigration enforcement in our communities as well as uncertainty around state and federal funding, while also being impacted by decreasing enrollment."

Leaders of UTLA, which represents 37,000 Los Angeles educators, said that, despite announcing their plans for a strike in about a month's time, a walkout could be avoided if a deal is reached with school board officials. 

"For over a year, LAUSD has dragged their feet and showed nothing but disrespect for what educators are dealing with," said a statement from UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz. 

"Instead of working with us as partners, LAUSD has put up roadblocks and refused to invest where it matters most: our classrooms. Ten billion to private companies, five billion stowed away in reserves, and LAUSD comes to contract negotiations with UTLA, with SEIU, and with AALA, offering pennies in comparison. Our students are counting on us to be out there to fight for them, for safe schools, and a bright future. We are the ones who hold the line for the schools they deserve."

The district's superintendent acknowledged that employees need to be compensated fairly and equitably, but also that they have to be careful stewards and budget wisely. "Any increases in salary must be balanced and considered in the entire school system we are here to serve,"  Chait said.

Educators and school staff are calling on the district to meet the following demands:

• Equitable wage increases for teachers and school staff 
• No layoffs
• Salaries that allow educators and education workers to afford to live in Los Angeles
• Increased hours and staffing for student services
• Protections against subcontracting and AI replacing educator jobs
• Less crowded classes and more mental health, Special Education staff and counselors to support students 
• Expanding arts and physical education to all elementary schools 

In January, UTLA members held a strike authorization vote, which 94% of members approved. They last went on an economic strike in 2019, union officials said.

If April 14 does come about without an agreement, SEIU Local 99 members also announced an "Unfair Practice Charge" strike alongside UTLA's mobilization "in response to the district's retaliation and bad-faith bargaining," a statement said.

LAUSD leadership claimed that "repeatedly adjusted offers" had been brought forward over the months of negotiation, which included "increased salary offers, proposed reducing class sizes and lowering counseling ratios." 

Officials said that the district is offering an 8% pay raise, plus a one-time 3% bonus over the next two years to UTLA members. They also said that LAUSD's labor team and SEIU officials met with a state mediator last month, and prior to that meeting a proposed contract from LAUSD included a 13% wage increase over three years. 

AALA members were offered a 7% pay raise over two years, the district said, noting that they also proposed various additional compensation measures.

"To our community, I want you to know you can count on us to make every effort to avoid a strike. We will continue to show up at the bargaining table, and we believe that we can reach an agreement with all of our labor partners," Chait said.

"This is a time for us to remember, that we are LA unified."