LAUSD Classes Canceled Tuesday as Workers Go on Strike

All LAUSD classes will be canceled on Tuesday as thousands of workers plan a three-day strike.

The announcement was made by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Monday, a day after the district said it would “prepare for the sad reality of school closures.”

“Let’s continue negotiations for as long as our students need,” Carvalho said on Monday. “We must avoid wasting time on learning, social and emotional development.”

Carvalho reiterated that his students “lost ground a lot” in 2020 after pandemic restrictions led to forced school closures and eventually distance learning.

Local Service Workers Union 99 (SEIU) represents about 30,000 community workers, from school bus drivers to canteen workers and helpers.

SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias accused the county of violating the confidentiality of a planned meeting between the two parties.

“This afternoon, SEIU Local 99 agreed to enter into a confidential mediation process with LAUSD to try to resolve our differences,” the SEIU said in a statement Monday afternoon. “Unfortunately, LAUSD violated this confidentiality by sharing it with the media before our negotiating team, which makes all the decisions, had a chance to discuss how to proceed. This is yet another example of the school district’s continued lack of respect for school employees. We are ready to strike.”

Arias then said that both sides remained stalemate as the workers represented were fully planning to strike from March 21 to 23.

Carvalho said the county submitted a contract that offered a permanent pay increase of more than 15%, a 9% retention bonus, an equity adjustment for those earning less than $30 an hour, medical benefits for part-time employees day, and a minimum wage of $20. above the county and state lows.

SEIU called it a “step forward” but demanded a permanent 30% pay increase as well as a $2 an hour increase in fair wages.

Ahead of the strike, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city will provide students with “safe spaces and meals” as the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department will operate Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. -Angeles. , as well as recreation centers in Los Angeles, offering free meals to elementary students from 7:00 to 18:00.

“Schools are much more than educational centers,” Bass said in a statement. “They are a safety net for hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles families. We will definitely do our best to provide the resources our city’s families need.”

The Los Angeles Natural History Museums announced that students will also be allowed free admission during the strike, providing additional secure seating at both the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park and La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park.

At the time of this writing, the strike was scheduled to begin at 4:30 am on Tuesday and continue until Thursday evening. It is not yet clear if schools will close during the strike.