The union representing Los Angeles Unified School District teachers announced Wednesday it will go on strike April 14 if a new contract is not reached with the district.
The announcement came during a large rally held in Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles featuring members of United Teachers Los Angeles, Service Employees International Union Local 99 and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles.
Despite announcing a strike date, the union noted that a walkout could be avoided if negotiations lead to a contract agreement.
UTLA officials said the union is calling for wage increases totaling roughly 17% over two years — saying teachers are not being paid enough to afford to live in Los Angeles. The union is also calling for no layoffs, increased hours and staffing for student services, protections against subcontracting and artificial intelligence that might replace educators, smaller classes, more mental health and special education staff and counselors, and expanded arts and physical education programs.
The union planned Wednesday’s rally to “make the message loud and clear: we are united and we are not backing down until LAUSD prioritizes investment in our schools and classrooms.”
The LAUSD issued a statement Wednesday saying it is “actively engaged in negotiations with our labor partners and remains committed to reaching agreements that balance the needs of students, families, and staff while ensuring long-term fiscal stability.”
“The district has repeatedly adjusted offers over more than a year of negotiations in response to concerns brought by our labor partners,” according to LAUSD. “For example we’ve increased salary offers, proposed reducing class sizes and lowering counseling ratios. We have also offered no further subcontracting of work historically and exclusively performed by Bargaining Unit employees. Our offers are among the highest in California. We continue to work through the formal bargaining process, including fact-finding and collaborative discussions, and will provide updates as agreements are reached or next steps are confirmed.”
According to the district, its latest offer to the union includes an 8% pay raise, plus a one-time 3% bonus, over the next two years. The district noted that over the past 10 years, the 20 largest school districts in the state gave an average pay raise to teachers of 30%, while LAUSD gave 36% over that same period.
UTLA teachers have not gone on strike since January 2019, when they walked off the job for six days. The union has roughly 30,000 members including teachers, counselors and librarians. The union’s contract with the district expired last June 30.
In January, roughly 94% of the union’s members voted to authorize their leaders to call a strike.