Teachers and staff with the Los Angeles Unified School District say district officials have until April 14 to meet their demands, or they’re going on strike.
This comes after months of stalled negotiations and strong support from union members who already voted to authorize a strike if needed.
Some of the demands by United Teachers Los Angeles include an average salary increase of 17% over two years, a new wage scale of $80,000, and decreasing class sizes for 11th and 12th-grade academic classes.
But during a rally in downtown L.A. on Wednesday night, educators say this isn’t just about pay, but also students and support inside the classroom.
“As a special ed teacher, I'm asking for support for our special education students,” one teacher told KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian. “They are students with the most needs on campus, and currently we're facing a lot of cuts to our programs, and if we're not able to serve our most needy, we can't really serve the public well at all. We need to provide support for all students, and so this contract would impact my students every day. They would get the support they needed, I would not be spread thin, and I would be able to provide the support that all my students need.”
Another educator said she wants to be able to afford doing a job she loves.
“I love being a teacher,” she said. “I've always wanted to be a teacher and I can continue to have a long, prosperous career serving the students and continuing to live in Los Angeles. What I need everyone to know is that this historic that we've all come together. We all have the same fight.”
District officials are offering teachers and 8% raise over two years, according to acting Superintendent Andres Chait.
“And we have presented an offer that allows for reopening of negotiations if our financial situation were to improve,” he continued.
Chait said a strike would be devastating to the school, saying, “Nobody wants a strike.”
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“When you have three unions. UTLA, SEIU, and AALA, who have all indicated that they would strike together, it is exceedingly difficult, if not nearly impossible, to maintain schools open during that scenario,” he said.
Negotiations with the teachers' union and SEIU are currently at an impasse.
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