Officials said that a three-day, planned strike was underway Tuesday by service workers at the nation’s second largest public school district.
At a press conference Monday evening, Alberto M. Carvalho, District Superintendent, stated that all Los Angeles Unified Schools District schools would close Tuesday.
This announcement was made by the Service Employees International Union Local 99. It represents bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodians as well as special education assistants.
Local 99 stated in a statement that school bus drivers, whose shifts usually begin at 4:30 am, will be the first to start the strike.
In a statement, Karen Bass, Los Angeles Mayor, stated that the city would help distribute student lunches at 21 Grab & Go locations during the strike. Los Angeles Zoo announced that admission will be free for LAUSD students until the end of the three day action.
According to the district data website, LAUSD has a enrollment of approximately 430,000 K-12 students.
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho speaks about the pending strike in Los Angeles, on Monday.
KNBC
Negotiations that could have led to a solution were not possible as Local 99, which represents more than 30,000 district workers in the area, entered Tuesday fully prepared to strike. United Teachers Los Angeles claims it represents approximately 35,000 educators and has stated that it will not cross picket lines.
Local 99 blamed the district for the day’s failure to negotiate. Max Arias, the executive director of Local 99, stated that district officials had broken an agreement to have confidential mediation about a possible contract. This halted progress.
Arias stated that Local 99 was not in negotiations with the district Monday night but was seeking resolution through a state run process that seeks out to free impasses.
Carvalho stated Monday that they were not in the same room, or even the same building, during the failed negotiations. “Today, we had a golden chance that just didn’t happen.”
Last week, Local 99 stated that the district still has a lot to go in spite of calls for higher wages. Local 99 has stated that its members earn an average salary of $25,000 per year, which is more than $10,000 less than the state poverty line for a family with four children.
Blanca Gallegos, spokesperson for SEIU Local 99, stated that union workers want a 30% increase in wages. Members approved a strike for February.
Carvalho stated that the district offered a more than 20% wage increase over a multiyear period and a 3% bonus. This was according to The Associated Press.
Erick Mendoza and Todd Miyazawa contributed to this article.
