Topline:
There’s increasing tension between Los Angeles Unified and the labor unions that represent teachers, support staff and principals over wages and benefits for about 68,000 district employees. The unions picketed at hundreds of schools Tuesday.
Who’s at the bargaining table: United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), SEIU Local 99 and the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles are working under expired contracts. The unions are also in the midst of separate negotiations over health care benefits that will expire at the end of the year without a new agreement.
What’s the conflict and what happens next? The unions say the district should pull from its multi-billion-dollar reserves to increase wages and provide more mental health support for students. “Nobody wants to go on strike, but if we have to, we will,” said UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz. “We've shown that two times in the past, but that's not what we want. We actually want real supports, real investments. The district can do it.” LAUSD told LAist in a statement that the raises it’s already offered align with increases in state funding.
The backstory: Educators and support staff won double-digit wage increases after teachers joined a three-day SEIU strike in 2023. The unions have long pointed to the district’s reserves as a potential source for raises and increased benefits. According to the most-recent financial report, LAUSD had an estimated $5 billion left at the end of its last budget year; about 40% is not designated to a specific purpose, the remainder is set aside for existing district programs, economic uncertainty or is otherwise restricted, though district leadership can choose to redirect some of that funding.
There’s increasing tension between Los Angeles Unified and the labor unions that represent teachers, support staff and principals over wages and benefits for about 68,000 district employees.
The unions reported picketing at more than 600 schools and held a joint press conference at RFK Community Schools in Koreatown on Tuesday morning.
“Nobody wants to go on strike, but if we have to, we will,” said United Teachers Los Angeles President Cecily Myart-Cruz. “We've shown that two times in the past, but that's not what we want. We actually want real supports, real investments. The district can do it.”
Members of the teachers union, SEIU Local 99 (which represents support staff) and the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (which represents principals) are working under expired contracts. The unions are also in the midst of separate negotiations over healthcare benefits that will expire at the end of the year without a new agreement.
“We very much value the work and dedication of all of our educators and services providers and look forward to continuing negotiations with all of our labor partners,” an LAUSD spokesperson said in a statement to LAist.
Educators and support staff won double-digit wage increases after teachers joined a three-day SEIU strike in 2023.
The contract negotiation sticking points are familiar — wages and benefits for workers — but the unions also want their contracts with the district to include mental health support for students, immigrant families and LGBTQ+ people.
What do the unions want? And how would it affect schools?
Here’s a summary of what each union is asking for and the district’s response:
United Teachers Los Angeles
35,000 members include: Teachers, psychologists and counselors.
Contract expired: June 30, 2025.
Proposals include:
- Raises for educators and changes to the salary schedule so that newer teachers who complete professional development can earn increases more quickly. UTLA estimates this would amount to an average pay increase of 21% over two years.
- More protections for immigrant students, including support for students whose parents or caregivers have been detained.
- The creation of a task force with the goal of reviewing district policy, resources and trainings and recommending changes to better support LGBTQ+ students and staff.
LAUSD’s most recent offer includes:
- Raises of 2% annually in the first two years of the contract (2025-27) and the option to negotiate for higher increases in the 2027-28 school year.
SEIU Local 99
30,000 members include: Bus drivers, cafeteria workers and classroom and campus aides.
Contract expired: June 30, 2024.
Proposals include:
- A 30% wage increase over three years.
- More hours for school support staff. President Conrado Guerrero estimates up to one-third of members are not assigned enough hours to earn benefits.
- The elimination of outsourcing for roles including special education services and warehouse workers.
LAUSD’s most recent offer includes:
- Raises of 2% annually, including retroactive increases starting in July 2024 and 2025, for a total of 6% through July 2027.
Associated Administrators of Los Angeles
3,000 members include: Principals, directors and other administrators.
Contract expired: June 30, 2025.
State of negotiations:
- AALA has not laid out a specific economic proposal yet but is broadly seeking salary increases, pay for additional duties and hours worked.
- ”We will use all the processes that we have legally to ensure that we continue to push the agenda of fairness, equity, and dignity and respect, and bring some joy and balance back to our workforce,” said President Maria Nichols.
Part of the union’s escalation efforts include courting the support of students and their families. Union members are passing out leaflets and plan to hold a rally later this year.
Helen Sanchez is the parent of two students at New Open World Academy in Koreatown. She said she’d like to see more staff and support for bilingual learners during the school day and in the afterschool programs.
“ We want each classroom to be a minimum of kids so that they're not overstimulated with too many kids,” Sanchez said.
Where’s the money?
The unions have long pointed to the district’s reserves as a potential source for raises and increased benefits.
“This money belongs to the students, to the teachers, to the staff,” said Estuardo Mazariegos, an LAUSD parent and co-director of advocacy group Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action. “This money should be spent now. We are living in a crisis, and if we don't step up, if our district does not step up, we will be in the streets.”
According to the most-recent financial report, LAUSD had an estimated $5 billion left at the end of its last budget year; about 40% is not designated to a specific purpose, the remainder is set aside for existing district programs, economic uncertainty or is otherwise restricted, though district leadership can choose to redirect some of that funding.
For the last two years, LAUSD’s spending has exceeded its revenue and the district relied on reserves to make up the difference. The board was required to approve a plan that outlines potential cuts, such as layoffs and school closures, along with the most recent budget.
