LA School Workers Reach Agreement With District

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have reached a tentative agreement.

The agreement came following a walkout by Local 99 SEIU school support staff, as reported by CMM, which included custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, teachers’ aides, and special education assistants. The strike shut down the largest school system in the United States for three days.

Per the agreement, support staff will receive raises of roughly 30%, with the actual amount based on length of service and current pay. If approved by union members, the Times reported, the agreement could prevent schools from being closed again to 420,000 students and spare workers from valuable lost wages.

“Here in California, this agreement will set new standards, not just for Los Angeles, but the entire state,” Max Arias, executive director of Local 99, said in a joint news conference. Alberto Carvalho, L.A. superintendent, described it as “a historic day.”