SoCal Schools Prepare For Historic LAUSD Labor Strike: Officials

LOS ANGELES, CA — The possibility of a strike is growing more likely as negotiations over labor contracts between teachers' unions and the state remain stalled, leaving the education and food resources of hundreds of thousands of students hanging in the balance.

Los Angeles Unified School District officials have begun advising parents to prepare their children for online learning and to find alternative childcare and food if teachers walk off the job on April 14.

The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA), United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), and SEIU Local 99 plan to walk out on April 14 if they are not able to reach a deal with LAUSD.

LAUSD, the second-largest school district in the country, is expecting a $191 million deficit for the 2027-28 school year. Union leaders believe LAUSD's access to a $5 billion reserve demonstrates the district has the means to pay higher wages. LAUSD has offered staggered raises, but UTLA, for example, has asked for a 13 percent increase on starting salaries, effective immediately, after previously requesting a 17 percent increase.

LAUSD offered an 8 percent wage increase over two years.

AALA, SEIU Local 99, and UTLA are the only labor unions that have yet to come to an agreement with LAUSD, but they represent the bulk of school employees who support daily operations.

According to a Los Angeles Times report, school operations would be at risk if only a single union failed to reach a deal with LAUSD.

If no agreement is reached, the strike would be union-wide and affect all schools within the district.

UTLA and SEIU Local 99, which represent more than 68,000 school workers combined, including faculty, teachers, bus drivers, security, cafeteria workers, and more. During a joint rally last month, officials announced both unions authorized a strike if they do not reach an agreement with LAUSD.

AALA includes about 3,000 principals, assistant principals and administrative staff.

Following failed negotiations with the unions last month, LAUSD Acting Superintendent Andres E. Chait said school districts throughout the state are facing significant financial challenges and pointed to the district’s efforts to address rising costs of living.

"I want to make it clear, nobody wants a strike," Chait said. "Strikes are not good for students. They are not good for our schools. They are not good for our families. I truly believe that our labor partners also do not want a strike. We will continue to work together, around the clock, to come to an agreement that avoids this outcome."

Last week, the district announced the release of an independent fact-finding report related to ongoing negotiations with UTLA. The fact-finding process "serves as an extension of collective bargaining and offers non-binding recommendations to help bridge remaining differences between the parties," officials said.

The district said it will continue working in good faith with UTLA to reach a final agreement.