The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) failed to reach an agreement with the union representing thousands of its employees, leading to a strike that began on Tuesday morning. The strike has shut down hundreds of schools and is expected to create hardships for hundreds of thousands of parents in the LA area. As early as 5:30 a.m., demonstrators were seen picketing in Van Nuys under the rain.
Despite last-minute negotiations that went into the evening Monday, the Los Angeles Unified School District was unable to come to agreement with the union representing thousands of its employees to avert a work stoppage. One of the striking bus drivers, Lynneier Boyd-Peterson, braved the rain to protest and expressed her frustration with being understaffed and underpaid. Many bus drivers, she said, are homeless, struggling to pay their bills and their mortgages. She also expressed her sadness over how the school closures will affect students and parents.
The strike had been planned for several weeks, and union reps identified Tuesday as the first day of what is tentatively planned to be a three-day stoppage. As many as 60,000 employees of the school district, who are members of both the Local 99 of Service Employees International Union and United Teachers Los Angeles, are supporting the strike. The unions represent both educators and school district employees, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and teaching aids.
Lynneier Boyd-Peterson, a striking bus driver who braved the rain to picket in Van Nuys, said she and fellow workers are tired of being understaffed and underpaid.
On Tuesday morning, the LAUSD strike began, shutting down hundreds of schools and creating hardships for hundreds of thousands of parents.
Demonstrators could be seen picketing under the rain as early as 5:30 a.m. in Van Nuys, video showed.
“Some of our bus drivers are actually homeless, some of them can’t pay their bills, they can’t even pay their mortgage,” she said. “It’s impossible.”
Boyd-Peterson added that she is saddened by how the school closures will affect students and parents.
“We love our students and we’re here for the students. But if we can’t properly take care of our kids, how can we properly come here and work as well?” Boyd-Peterson said. “We are asking the parents to please stand with us because if we can take care of our families properly, we can actually take care of their families as well.”
The strike had been planned for several weeks, and union reps identified Tuesday as the first day of what is tentatively planned to be a three-day stoppage. As many as 60,000 employees of the school district, who are members of both the Local 99 of Service Employees International Union and United Teachers Los Angeles, are supporting the strike. The unions represent both educators and school district employees, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and teaching aids.
It includes the support of as many as 60,000 employees of the school district who are members of both the Local 99 of Service Employees International Union and United Teachers Los Angeles.
The unions represent both educators and school district employees, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and teaching aids.
The Local 99 union demands improved wages, including a 30% wage increase and a $2 per hour additional raise for the lowest-paid workers, according to the Los Angeles Times. Most of the Local 99 workers make an average of $25,000, with many working part-time. While the teachers union is not directly involved in the wage dispute, its union leaders have said they will honor the stoppage and stand in solidarity with fellow school district employees, refusing to cross picket lines.
The strike is expected to affect more than 500,000 students in the LAUSD, leaving many parents scrambling to make alternative arrangements for their children.
The closure of schools will likely leave many parents scrambling to make arrangements for their children.
The school district has released a list of resources for families during the three-day strike, including information about student supervision and meal pickups. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said some city parks and recreation centers would be opened to serve as after-school program centers.
The Los Angeles Zoo is also offering free admission and a “Community Safari Day” for elementary students affected by the shutdown.
As a community reporter for SoCalTelevision, I'll keep you updated on any developments regarding the ongoing strike and its impact on students, parents, and employees.
