dailyloe.com – Negotiations between the Los Angeles Unified School District and its teachers’ union continued into Saturday without an agreement. The possibility of a strike next Tuesday remains unresolved. As of early evening, neither United Teachers Los Angeles nor district officials had provided updates. A spokesperson for LAUSD said Saturday negotiations were continuing throughout the weekend.
The district spokesperson stated a commitment to reaching supportive agreements. They said the deals must also protect the district’s long-term financial stability. The bargaining session is the latest effort to resolve a major dispute. The conflict involves wages, staffing, and working conditions.
The union, UTLA, represents roughly 37,000 district employees. These include teachers, counselors, nurses, and librarians. UTLA’s 150-member bargaining team last met with district negotiators on Wednesday. That session stretched from morning into the night.
UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz issued a statement on Thursday. She said there was some constructive engagement during talks. Myart-Cruz stated the district must do more to address critical issues. She cited staffing, student mental health, and livable wages for educators.
It was not immediately clear if talks would continue Saturday night. Negotiations could also resume on Sunday. Both sides are working to reach an agreement ahead of a potential Tuesday strike. An agreement could come down to the final hours before a walkout.
Labor deals are often reached shortly before employees report to work. According to the district, schools remain open on Monday. The standoff comes as LAUSD faces pressure from multiple labor groups. These include UTLA and Service Employees International Union Local 99.
SEIU Local 99 represents roughly 30,000 support staff. The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles represents about 3,000 administrators. Together, the three unions represent roughly 70,000 employees. This is the vast majority of the district’s 83,000-person workforce.
If all three unions were to strike, it would be a first. They have never walked out at the same time before. This significantly raises the stakes of the ongoing negotiations. The move could disrupt instruction for more than 400,000 students.
LAUSD is the nation’s second-largest school district. A simultaneous strike by all three unions would be unprecedented. The weekend negotiations are critical to avoiding a major disruption. The outcome will impact hundreds of thousands of students and families.[]
Source: Los Angeles Daily News
