Los Angeles Unified School District officials say they are beginning preparations for a possible walkout of thousands of cafeteria workers, bus drivers, guards, special education aides and other workers who this week announced plans to cancel their current contracts amid stalled union negotiations over a new deal.
According to Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents more than 30,000 LAUSD workers, the district was notified Tuesday of the cancellation of the pending contract, moving closer to a potential strike.
In February, workers authorized the union to call a strike if negotiations failed.
“Workers are tired of living on poverty wages and having their jobs threatened for demanding fair wages. Workers are tired of being understaffed at LAUSD and being harassed for speaking out,” said said Max Arais, executive director of SEIU Local 99, in a statement.
“We demand that LAUSD stops the illegal activity, or the workers are prepared to take stronger action to protest these unfair practices. Terminating our contract is not a decision we take lightly. But it is clear that LAUSD does not respect or value the work of essential workers in our schools”.
District officials released a statement on Wednesday saying they were “disappointed that SEIU is pulling out of negotiations with so much at stake.”
“This action brings them closer to a strike, which will significantly disrupt education and negatively affect our entire system,” according to the district.
District officials said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho made the union “one of the strongest proposals for the Los Angeles Unified School District.”
According to the district, the offer included a 5% raise retroactive to July 2021, another 5% raise retroactive to July 2022, and another 5% raise from July 2023, as well as a 4% bonus in 2022. -23, and a Premium of 5% in 2023-24.
“Ultimately, we must do what is best for our students as well as our workforce, which includes exercising fiscal responsibility,” a district statement said.
“Our general fund is not a reserve proposal – the district cannot go bankrupt. We must be united in our efforts to provide all children with access to a quality public education that will prepare them for success in the future. school and in life.
Union officials said the affected workers earned an average salary of $25,000 a year and had worked without a contract since June 2020.
The union declared an impasse in negotiations in December, leading to the appointment of a state mediator.
In addition to wage demands, union officials also alleged staffing shortages caused by “overreliance on low-paying part-time work”.
The union said there were many shortages, including:
- insufficient paraprofessionals, special education aids and other forms of educational support to address learning loss and achievement gaps;
- poor cleaning and disinfection on school campuses due to lack of maintenance staff;
- campus security threatened because campus and playground supervisors were overworked;
- limited enrichment, after-school programs and parental involvement due to reduced work hours;
- lack of health care benefits for after-school workers and community representatives.