LAUSD teachers' union authorizes potential strike

LAUSD teachers authorize strike

The LAUSD teachers' union voted to authorize a strike with pay and benefits the center of negotiations. 

LOS ANGELES - The union representing 37,000 educators in the Los Angeles Unified School District has voted to authorize a strike, officials said Saturday.

The vote does not necessarily mean there will be a strike, but it gives the elected Board of Directors of United Teachers Los Angeles the authority to call one if the district does not agree to a new contract.

What we know:

According to the union, UTLA and LAUSD participated in two mediation sessions last week where no agreement was reached. In the coming weeks, the parties will move into fact-finding, a process in which a panel will review both sides' positions and issue a non-binding report. If no contract agreement is reached after that process, UTLA members could call a strike.

UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz said that "for nearly a year, educators have stood united around our contract demands because we know what our schools need. We are in classrooms every day, and we know what it takes to truly serve our students and their families. Yet while our school community faces growing hardship, the district has chosen to ignore our concerns."

LA teachers one step closer to striking

 The union representing LAUSD teachers voted to authorize a strike.

'We don't have any money'

What they're saying:

United Teachers Los Angeles is putting the second-largest school district in the country on notice.

"We're saying, invest in our schools, invest in our members, and invest in our students," says high school English teacher and UTLA member, Gina Gray.

The union voted in favor of authorizing a strike if a deal isn't reached over benefits, teacher pay and funding student resources.

"94% of the members are ready to walk out to demand what we need for our schools," said Gray.

She says some teachers are working second jobs to afford living and working in Los Angeles.

"We definitely have an issue with pay and benefits, and it also leads to retention, right? We can't maintain in this profession if you can't afford to live and work in the city where you're serving your students and community."

Gray says current contract negotiations are not just about fighting for higher pay, but also fighting for more funding for their students.

She points to a recent experience at the high school she works at.

"It's flu season, there's runny noses, everything at high school and I went down stairs to get some kleenex and they were like oh we don't have any kleenex at the school and we don't have any money to order anymore, that's unfathomable."

The district says they presented a package proposal with updated wage increases to the union last week. 

Gray says the goal is not to strike but to find common ground.

"We know that is the last resort and we are still trying to avoid that," said Gray.

LAUSD statement on strike authorization 

LAUSD released the following statement Saturday:

"Earlier this week the District came to a tentative agreement on a 2024-2027 collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 572 and remains in negotiations with all of our labor partners. The District and AALA/Teamsters 2010 met January 29 to continue negotiations of the 2025-2028 collective bargaining agreement and District presented a package proposal with updated wage increases. Prior to mediation, the District came to a $3.1 billion agreement with all of our labor partners to extend District-funded health benefits for the 2026 and 2027 plan years to cover 100% of estimated health care benefit premiums for all eligible employees, their dependents, and retirees. The District is currently faced with structural fiscal challenges driven by declining enrollment, the expiration of federal relief funds, lower- than-expected cost-of-living adjustments, and rising operational costs. We recognize the real financial strain on educators and staff, but must make difficult decisions to preserve classrooms, student services, and long-term stability within finite resources. This moment calls for collaboration between all parties to reach a sustainable resolution. Our priority is maintaining stable, welcoming schools and minimizing disruption to student learning. We value our educators and the essential work they do every day, and we will continue to engage constructively through the established bargaining process."