LAUSD schools close

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) closed down schools due to a three-day strike by the union representing school support personnel. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced the news on Monday, expressing that the district is working to negotiate with the union to reach a settlement before the closures negatively impact the children.

“We are committed to continue good faith bargaining with our labor partners around the clock to reach an agreement before a strike occurs. I have invited union leaders to have a direct conversation with me to negotiate day and night to reach an understanding to spare our children from the avoidable disastrous consequences of a strike. Our students should not be victims,” Carvalho’s letter reads.

This three-day strike involves over 60,000 employees who left their duties, including teaching assistants, cafeteria employees, custodians, campus security, bus drivers, and educators from the United Teachers of Los Angeles, which represents about 35,000 teachers. Superintendent Carvalho expressed his empathy for the effects of the school closures on students, including learning loss, food and nutrition deprivation, and safety and security deprivation.

“I know that we focus our attention on the needs of the workforce. I need to focus my attention on also primarily on the needs of our kids,” Carvalho said.

Despite no talks taking place on Tuesday, Superintendent Carvalho promised to be available all-day Tuesday to resume negotiations and end the three-day strike. However, Executive Director of Local 99 Max Arias does not anticipate a resolution before the strike as he does not see the district bending to compromise.

The union is requesting a 30% raise and a $2 per hour equality wage hike for the approximately 30,000 school support personnel, and the LAUSD has already made concessions, including minimum wage increase to $20 and raises of over 15%. Schools are expected to restart no later than Friday, and the LAUSD has set up stations to provide meals to the students on the three days that schools are closed.