The Los Angeles teachers’ union is under fire after authorizing a strike next month if the nation’s second-largest school district won’t meet its demands.
United Teachers Los Angeles’ 37,000 members, along with bus drivers, teacher aides, custodians, cafeteria workers and other roles covered by the Service Employees International Union, voted to strike April 14 unless the Los Angeles Unified School District grants demands including a 17% pay raise over two years, no layoffs, smaller class sizes, AI protections, and agrees to hire more student support services personnel such as mental health counselors.
Some say the strike appears to be part of a larger, coordinated effort by the California Teachers Association to gain political power. Across the state, more than two dozen districts are striking or threatening to strike because of expired contracts.
CTA President David Goldberg denied it was a coordinated effort, but acknowledged the association is working on a ballot initiative to increase public school funding.
