LAUSD Service Workers Move Another Step Closer to a Strike
SEIU Local 99鈥檚 leaders announced at a LA Unified board meeting they were canceling contract extension, which includes a no-strike provision.
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Update, March 13:
SEIU Local 99 over the weekend that it plans to hold a 3-day unfair labor practice strike to protest what it characterizes as harassment from LAUSD. The union will announce dates for the strike this Wednesday at a joint rally with the teachers union, UTLA. An on UTLA’s website says its members “are preparing for full solidarity once the [strike] dates are announced.” The rally will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Grand Park in front of L.A. City Hall. In addition, the LAUSD school board will meet Tuesday to discuss the labor negotiations in a special .
The union representing LAUSD鈥檚 30,000 school bus drivers, custodians, and other service workers took another step closer to a strike yesterday in a move that could lead to a shutdown of the nation鈥檚 second largest school district.
鈥淲e are canceling the extension of our current union contract,鈥 said SEIU Local 99 executive director Max Arias at yesterday鈥檚 school board meeting. 鈥淭his includes the no-strike provision.鈥
The announcement follows a string of threats issued by Local 99 leaders in recent months, each one bringing the union closer, at least rhetorically, to a work stoppage.
A representative for a coalition of 47 organizations also addressed the negotiations, presenting the board with a letter urging its members 鈥渢o address the historic underinvestment in a group of workers 鈥 namely women of color 鈥 who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to the students and families of Los Angeles.鈥
In December, service workers rallied in front of LAUSD headquarters. In January and February, the union held a , which passed with 96% support. Now, by canceling the contract extension and its no-strike provision, the union opens the possibility a strike could occur even sooner than anticipated.
鈥淲e do not take this decision lightly,鈥 said Arias.
Ana Teresa Dahan, managing director of GPSN, spoke on behalf of the 47 organizations.
鈥淲e want to encourage an equitable resolution and believe in the Superintendent鈥檚 leadership to make that happen鈥 said Dahan, quoting from the letter.
The letter praises Local 99鈥檚 in-person work early in the pandemic and its advocacy to end and increase K-12 arts funding. Other signatories include Educators for Excellence Los Angeles, The Los Angeles Trust for Children鈥檚 Health, and the Los Angeles Urban League.
The union鈥檚 presence at the board meeting was part of a district-wide action on Tuesday 鈥 informational picketing at nearly 300 schools 鈥 calling attention to alleged unfair labor practices. In documents filed with the state labor board, the union alleges a variety of obstruction and intimidation tactics from district administrators during last month鈥檚 voting period to authorize a strike.
One charge describes a principal who, by continually popping into the staff lounge, would not allow union members to confer in private. Another describes an official who placed boxes in front of a bulletin board holding voting information.
In a Wednesday, LAUSD said it was “disappointed” in SEIU’s decision to cancel its contract extension, acknowledging a strike would “cause a significant disruption to instruction, and would adversely impact our entire system.”
A strike protesting these tactics 鈥 an unfair labor practice strike 鈥 could be called at any time.
The union鈥檚 other weapon, an economic strike, can only be called once the state鈥檚 negotiating procedure has been exhausted. The union has moved closer in that direction as well.
Arias said state-facilitated mediation has failed, leading to the step of fact-finding, during which a three-member panel reviews each side鈥檚 arguments and produces a non-binding recommendation.
The district has 鈥渕ade some movements I want to commend them on,鈥 Arias said in an interview, adding that during recent negotiations, LAUSD agreed to expand health benefits for teaching assistants and after school workers.
But, he added, they haven鈥檛 come close to meeting the union鈥檚 core demand of a 30% wage increase as well as an hourly bump of $2, the latter proposed with the union鈥檚 lowest-paid members in mind.
The average annual salary for union members is $25,000, and many are living paycheck to paycheck.
Three board members on Tuesday 鈥 Nick Melvoin,Tanya Ortiz Franklin, and board president Jackie Goldberg 鈥 wore purple, the color of SEIU. LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho showed up late, missing Local 99 president Conrado Guerrero鈥檚 two minutes of comment, which highlighted members鈥 work to prepare sack lunches and maintain facilities during the early pandemic.
鈥淗ow soon LAUSD forgets,鈥 Guerrero said.
When Arias made his announcement, some board members looked surprised, but Carvalho appeared unfazed, moving only to lift a small glass coffee mug to his lips.
Local 99 has the backing of United Teachers Los Angeles, whose board to support the service workers if they struck by not crossing the picket line.
On March 15, Local 99 and UTLA will hold a joint rally at LA City Hall.
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