In brief
Los Angeles schools dodged a strike that would have affected approximately 400,000 students after the school district and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 came to a tentative agreement early Tuesday. The deal promises significant benefits including raises, additional hours, and protections against layoffs, allowing students to stay in class while securing support staff's demands. Unions representing educators had previously reached agreements, reinforcing a collaborative spirit among the workers.
LOS ANGELES (PulseWire) — Schools in Los Angeles successfully avoided a strike that had the potential to impact nearly 400,000 students in Southern California as the local school district and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 reached a tentative agreement early Tuesday.
Union representatives announced on their social media channels that the organization achieved significant progress with the new deal, including substantial raises and more work hours for support staff. This tentative agreement also includes crucial protections against subcontracting, cessation of IT layoffs, and increased staffing. Members were instructed to report to work as usual on Tuesday while the final details are solidified.
The resolution comes after heightened tensions where teachers, principals, and staff were gearing up for a walkout should negotiations falter. Other educational unions, representing teachers and principals, reached their own tentative agreements over the weekend, contributing to the momentum toward securing this agreement.
Historically, the three unions representing over 70,000 workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District have never simultaneously struck. In past instances, like a three-day teacher strike in 2023, administrators stepped in to keep approximately 150 schools operational while discussions were ongoing.
