The Los Angeles School District (LAUSD) avoided a worker strikescheduled for the first hour of this Tuesday, April 14, after reaching a preliminary agreement with a third union with which it was negotiating a new labor contract.
After reaching this agreement, schools in America’s second-largest school district are open to welcome their students.
The agreement of LAUSD officials with the representatives of the SEIU Native 99 union was reached this Monday nightjust a few hours before the deadline.
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At 2:00 am this Tuesday, the LAUSD confirmed that it had reached the preliminary agreement with the SEIU Native 99 union, which represents about 30,000 employees such as custodians, food industry workers, special education aides and school bus drivers.
On Sunday, the school district reached preliminary contractual agreements with the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union, which represents teachersand with the Association of Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA/Teamsters 2010), who also threatened a strike for this Tuesday.
If the SEIU Native 99 union went on strike this Tuesday, UTLA and AAIA/Teamsters 2010 representatives said their members were willing to join in demonstrations as a sign of solidarity.
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“We are pleased to announce that We have reached a preliminary agreement with SEIU Native 99which will allow schools to open today,” the Los Angeles Unified School District announced on its website.
“LAUSD and SEIU teams will continue to work together to finalize the details of a provisional agreement“added the district.
According to the SEIU Native 99 union, among the highlights that were achieved with the preliminary agreement with the LAUSD are:
- 24% salary increasewhich will make a significant difference in the livelihood of workers.
- Best work day that will ensure health care benefits for thousands of workers and their families, and increase services and supports for students.
- Revocation of layoffs of hundreds of computer technicians.
- Expanded health care benefits for paraprofessionals, after-school program workers, community representatives and others.
- Prohibition of subcontracting work to external supplierswith the possibility of incorporating more work into the district.
“This agreement was reached thanks to the bold action and courage of thousands of workers who were willing to sacrifice to improve conditions in their schools and in their lives,” said the executive director of the SEIU Native 99 union, Max Arias.
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“The strike was always the last resortand we are proud to have been able to work with the school district and Mayor Karen Bass to reach an agreement that recognizes the contribution of frontline workers in our schools,” added the union representative.
Workers represented by the SEIU Native 99 union They must still vote to ratify the labor agreement with the school district.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated on social media that participated in helping both parties reach an agreement because a strike would disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of students and their parents, who need child care and must go to work.
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“I also intervened to make sure the city was prepared to provide safe places for children while schools remain closed, and I’m glad we don’t need those contingency plans,” Mayor Bass added.
Los Angeles Unified School District serves nearly 500,000 students every dayto whom it provides education, food and child care.
Keep reading:
· Community demands reinstatement of Hispanic teacher in Los Angeles school
· Los Angeles Teachers Union Announce Strike for April 14
· Family sues the Los Angeles school district over the death of Khimberly Zavaleta
