Los Angeles schools to reopen after three-day workers’ strike

School will be back in session on Friday for 420,000 Los Angeles students after a three-day strike by education workers disrupted classes and social services in the second-largest school district in the United States.

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the Service Employees International Union Local 99 failed to reach an agreement during the work stoppage, which ended on Thursday with another day of picketing and rallies by striking bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other low-wage earners.

“All @LASchools will reopen this Friday, March 24. … We look forward to seeing our students and employees back in classrooms,” the school district said on Twitter on Thursday.

Some 30,000 workers, backed by 35,000 unionized teachers who honored their picket line, walked off the job on Tuesday seeking an increase to what they call poverty wages averaging $25,000 per year.

More than 40,000 students will be returning back to class after a three-day-long worker strike as school workers say they are making “poverty wages.”
AFP via Getty Images

Bus drivers, cafeteria workers and special education assistants employed by Los Angeles Unified School District were fighting for better pay. Protesters rallying outside rally outside LAUSD headquarters on March 21, 2023.
Bus drivers, cafeteria workers and special education assistants protesting outside LAUSD headquarters on March 21, 2023.
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The work stoppage was the latest in a series of job actions by educators across the United States who have complained of burnout and low wages, leading to a teacher shortage in many parts of the country.

“We’re three days in and I’m willing to do some more (strike) days if we have to,” said Tiffany Barba, a special education assistant and one of thousands who attended a closing rally on Thursday at Los Angeles State Historic Park.

Many workers anticipated an agreement might be announced at the rally but no such news was released.


Los Angeles public school support staff, teachers, and supporters rally outside of the school district headquarters on the first day of a three day strike in Los Angeles, California, on March 21, 2023.
Public school support staff, teachers, and supporters rally outside of the school district headquarters on the first day of a three-day strike in Los Angeles, California, on March 21, 2023.
AFP via Getty Images

People protest for the third day as members of the Service Employees International Union Local 99 strike, in Los Angeles, California on March 23, 2023
People protest for the third day as members of the Service Employees International Union Local 99 strike, in Los Angeles, California on March 23, 2023.
AFP via Getty Images

“It’s a long process. We don’t want to sign something that we might regret later,” said Orasio Morales, a driver and union shop steward.

The union was demanding a 30% salary increase plus an additional $2 per hour for the lowest-paid workers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

L.A. schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who acknowledged workers have been underpaid for years, told reporters on Monday the district had offered a 23% raise plus a 3% bonus.

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