Educators in the Little Lake City School District will continue their strike Friday for a second day amid an ongoing contract dispute over health care costs, class sizes and student support services.
Teachers represented by the Little Lake Education Association began picketing at school campuses Thursday morning.
Union officials said the dispute centers on proposed midyear health care changes that could increase some employees’ monthly costs to as much as $1,400, which they contend amounts to a pay cut. They are also calling for smaller class sizes and more support for special education programs.
“My message to the district is: If you want to come back to the table and make a fair offer, we will be there within minutes to sit down and negotiate with you,” LLEA President Maria Pilios said Thursday. “This is historic. This is the first strike we’ve ever had in our district, but we are committed.”
The district, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, serves students in portions of Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and a small part of Downey.
Earlier this month, 94% of union members voted in favor of authorizing a strike.
“Yesterday, we heard from parents, students, and the community who have been negatively impacted by the district’s deprioritization of fully-funded classrooms,” Pilios said in a statement Thursday. “Right now, the district has cut our healthcare benefits, proposed cuts to staffing, increased class sizes and they are refusing to provide more support to meet the growing needs of an increasing Special Education student population. We are here to demand they do better by our community.”
District Superintendent Jonathan Vasquez previously said officials were working to reach an agreement while maintaining financial stability.
“Our teachers and staff are at the heart of our district, and we remain committed to reaching an agreement that reflects their contributions while ensuring the long-term stability of our schools,” Vasquez said.
“The district strongly disagrees with the characterization that we are not investing in classrooms or student supports. Our budget reflects ongoing investments in instructional programs, special education services, and student interventions. At the same time, we must balance these priorities with our legal obligation to maintain fiscal solvency, including meeting the state-required reserve levels,” he added.
Union officials also said they have filed an unfair labor practice charge, alleging the district improperly asked educators to disclose their strike intentions.
“They’ve spent millions on outside contractors instead of investing in our classrooms,” Pilios said in an earlier statement. “Our students deserve better, and we refuse to accept cuts that harm both educators and the learning conditions our students depend on.”