Los Angeles teachers' strike

Los Angeles teachers' strike. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) strike, led by United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), involved approximately 34,000 teachers, librarians, and nurses from Los Angeles schools, including Hamilton High School, Los Angeles High School, and Hollywood High School. The strike drew support from American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, National Education Association (NEA) President Lily Eskelsen García, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. As the strike progressed, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti played a key role in facilitating negotiations between the LAUSD and UTLA, with input from California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Background

The Los Angeles teachers' strike was preceded by a similar strike in West Virginia, led by West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee, and another in Arizona, led by Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas. These strikes, along with the RedforEd movement, inspired teachers across the United States, including those in Oakland, California, Denver, Colorado, and Chicago, Illinois, to demand better salaries, reduced class sizes, and increased funding for public schools. The LAUSD strike was also influenced by the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision, which affected union dues and collective bargaining rights for public sector employees, including those represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Los Angeles City Council members, such as Gil Cedillo and Monica Rodriguez, expressed support for the striking teachers, while California State Legislature members, including State Senator Maria Elena Durazo and Assemblymember Tony Thurmond, worked to address the underlying issues.

Causes of the Strike

The primary causes of the strike included salary increases, class size reduction, and increased funding for public schools, as well as the hiring of more librarians, nurses, and counselors. Teachers were also concerned about the proliferation of charter schools, which they believed drained resources from traditional public schools. The strike was supported by community organizations, such as the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) and the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), as well as elected officials like United States Representative Maxine Waters and California State Assemblymember Judy Chu. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also weighed in on the issue, highlighting the importance of equitable funding for public education. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and California State Senator Holly Mitchell were among the local and state leaders who advocated for increased education funding.

Strike Details

The strike began on January 14, 2019, and lasted for six days, with picket lines forming outside schools across Los Angeles. Rallies and marches were held in Grand Park and other locations, featuring speakers like UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl, AFT President Randi Weingarten, and NEA President Lily Eskelsen García. The strike affected over 600,000 students and their families, with many parents and community members showing support for the striking teachers. Schools remained open during the strike, staffed by administrators and substitute teachers, but many students stayed home in solidarity with the striking teachers. Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) personnel were present to maintain order during the strike.

Impact and Aftermath

The strike had a significant impact on the Los Angeles community, with many businesses and organizations showing support for the striking teachers. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers expressed solidarity with the teachers, as did musicians like Ricky Martin and will.i.am. The strike also drew attention to the broader issues affecting public education in California and the United States, including funding inequities and the teacher shortage. In the aftermath of the strike, the LAUSD and UTLA reached a tentative agreement, which included salary increases, class size reduction, and increased funding for public schools. The agreement was hailed as a victory for public education and a model for future labor negotiations. California Governor Gavin Newsom and California State Legislature leaders, including State Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, pledged to address the underlying issues affecting public education in California.

Negotiations and Agreement

The negotiations between the LAUSD and UTLA were facilitated by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California Governor Gavin Newsom, with input from California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and California State Legislature leaders. The tentative agreement, reached on January 22, 2019, included a 6% salary increase for teachers, a reduction in class sizes, and increased funding for public schools. The agreement also addressed issues related to charter schools and the hiring of more librarians, nurses, and counselors. The UTLA membership voted to approve the agreement, bringing an end to the strike and paving the way for improved public education in Los Angeles. United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and National Education Association (NEA) President Rebecca Pringle praised the agreement as a model for labor negotiations and a step forward for public education. Category:Labor disputes in the United States