Photo: Getty Images
The Los Angeles Unified District may strike for three days next week, leaving students and parents in limbo.
The SEIU union that includes bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other support staff says they will strike for three days starting next Tuesday if they can’t reach a new terms with the district.
Both the union that represents support staff, SEIU and the Teachers Union are hoping for better pay and benefits.
The support staff, including cafeteria workers, bus drivers, are leading the charge on this potential strike and right now no deal has been reached.
The union also says that staffing shortages have led to problems in schools, including substandard cleaning of campuses, less safety supervision on playgrounds and limited after-school enrichment programs.
Here’s what the unions are asking for:
· At least a 20% increase in wages
· They want staff shortages to be addressed
· Increased hours and health care benefits for part-time workers
· Improved sanitation and maintenance on campuses
The district says its latest offer to SEIU totals a 15% wage increase:
That includes two 5% retroactive raises for 2021 and 2022 plus another 5% increase effective July 2023. In addition the district is offering a 4% bonus for 2022-23 and a 5% bonus in 2023-24.
If the strike continues as planned, this will have big impact on parents.
LAUSD says if schools shut down they will provide at home educational packages for students and parents, there will be about 60 food distribution sites, and some degree of childcare available.
If the strike happens, the Parks and Recreation Department will extend hours of the "Every Body Plays" program at 16 parks including Deane Dana Friendship Park and Stoneview Nature Center from March 21 to March 23.
What: A free program offering sports, arts and crafts, and breakfast and lunch.
When: March 21 through 23, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Grab n' go breakfast is offered from 8-10 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Who: children ages 7 to 17
Participating Parks:
· Belvedere Park (4914 E. Cesar Chavez Ave. Los Angeles, CA 9002)
· City Terrace Park (1126 N. Hazard Ave, E. Los Angeles, CA 90063)
· Obregon Park (4021 E. First St. Los Angeles, CA 90063)
· Saybrook Park (6250 East Northside Dr. East Los Angeles, CA 90022)
· Ruben Salazar Park (3864 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023)
· Athens Park (12603 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90061)
· Bethune Park (1244 E. 61st St. Los Angeles, CA 9000)
· Helen Keller Park (1045 W. 126th St Los Angeles, CA 90044)
· Jesse Owens Park (9651 S. Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90047)
· Earvin Magic Johnson Park (905 E. El Segundo Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90059)
· Roosevelt Park (7600 Graham Ave. Los Angeles CA 90001)
· Ted Watkins Park (1335 E. 103rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90002)
· Leon H Washington Park (8908 S. Maie Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90002)
· Victoria Park (419 Martin Luther King Jr. St. Carson, CA 90746)
· El Cariso Park (13100 Hubbard St. Sylmar, CA 91342)
· Crescenta Valley Park (3901 Dunsmore Ave. Glendale, CA 91214)
Deane Dana Friendship Nature Center (1805 W. 9th St.San Pedro, CA 90732) and Stoneview Nature Center (5950 Stoneview Dr. Culver City, CA 90232) will also offer extended hours during this time, and will serve free breakfast and lunches, while supplies last.
The UTLA union said they have no updates and SEIU says no agreement has been reached on there end too.
That means, as of now, the 3 day strike will still begin on Tuesday.
Check out NBC for more.