On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced that it had reached a tentative agreement with the last of three unions – Service Employees International Union Local 99 (SEIU Local 99) to ensure that schools would operate normally that day. The union also called off the scheduled strike.
SEIU Local 99 had previously announced that if their demands were not met, they would strike from the 14th to the 17th, and members of the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and the Los Angeles Alliance of AALA/Teamsters 2010 would join the strike. The latter two unions had reached preliminary agreements with the district on the 12th and 13th, respectively, and all three unions claimed significant victories.
The teachers’ union, with over 35,000 members, voted on February 2nd, with 94% favoring a strike if an agreement on salary increases could not be reached with the district. The union argued that despite LAUSD having a financial reserve of $5.03 billion, the district had funneled $10 billion into long-term privatized contracts since 2022.
On the 23rd, nearly 60,000 members of SEIU Local 99 in Southern California voted, with 97% supporting a strike, citing it as a response to what they saw as retaliatory actions by LAUSD in approving layoffs and cutting essential services.
The Truck Drivers Union, with approximately 27,000 members, announced on March 20th that they would join forces with the other two unions, demanding that the district allocate funds to essential areas such as students, staff, and classrooms. The union had been protesting on university campuses since February and had recently approved a medical benefits agreement signed with the district in December, garnering 94% member support.
The unions highlighted that in one of the most expensive cities in America, Los Angeles, members’ average annual income was only $35,000. Many struggled with the rising cost of living, with over 3,000 current employees reporting experiences of homelessness, while over 160 executives within the district earned salaries surpassing that of the governor.
The planned strike was canceled following the preliminary agreements. Acting Superintendent of the district, Andrés E. Chait, stated, “Today marks a turning point to open a new chapter and reshape our relationship with the unions.”
The district pledged to significantly increase employee salaries and continue their commitment to fully fund health and welfare benefits for employees, with a notable increase in investment in recent years.
All seven school board members expressed their satisfaction with the agreements reached with the three unions. Board Chair Scott M. Schmerelson expressed that he hoped every member of the district would recognize the essential role union members played in the functioning of schools, stressing that operations would not be possible without them.
SEIU Local 99 announced on the 14th that their accomplishments included a 24% salary increase over three years (including a 12% retroactive pay bump) and provisions for protections against subcontracting and job security for IT workers.
The agreements also ensured a minimum of 4-hour workweeks for Food Services, Unit B and C staff, and some other employees, along with access to medical benefits. Permanent contractual terms were established for seven-hour workdays for Special Education Assistants and Health Instruction Assistants, and eight-hour workdays for school bus drivers.
On the 13th, the Teamsters 2010 union stated that significant progress had been made in negotiations with the district. The agreement included a cumulative 12.15% salary increase up to January 2027, divided into four payments and retroactive to an increase starting from July 2025. Other terms included eight-hour workdays, a 40-hour workweek, flexible work hours, and several allowances-related clauses.
In the early hours of the 12th, a negotiation team comprising 150 members of the Los Angeles Teachers Union reached a preliminary two-year agreement with the district. The union deemed it a significant victory, asserting that it would compel the district to allocate considerable funds towards prioritized areas.
The agreement encompassed an average salary increase of 13.86%, with a minimum increment of not less than 8%, accounting for around 14.3% of members experiencing over a 20% raise. Additionally, provisions were made for paid parental leave, the addition of more than 450 positions such as Pupil Services Advisers, Pupil Services Workers, School Psychologists, and Counselors, setting a 1:20 teacher-student ratio limit for Resource Specialist Teachers, and extending medical insurance benefits to substitute teachers after 93 days of service.
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This news marks a significant development in labor relations within the education sector in Los Angeles, underlining the importance of collaboration and dialogue between school districts and labor unions to ensure the well-being and fair treatment of educators and staff.