The Los Angeles Unified School District and the union representing support staff have reached a tentative agreement that would provide raises of about 30% or more for the lowest-wage workers.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the settlement came one day after the end of a strike that shut down schools for three days.
Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union — which represents about 30,000 employees and includes bus drivers, teacher aides, special-education assistants, custodians and food service workers — led the strike that began Tuesday and ended Thursday.
Also on strike in solidarity were members of United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents about 35,000 teachers, counselors, therapists, nurses and librarians. UTLA remains in negotiations with the district over its contract.
The deal with Local 99 is not an across-the-board increase but spread out over time and also affected by length of service and current salary — so that some workers will receive less than 30% and some more.
The general raises include retroactive payments for workers employed at the time: 6% as of July 1, 2021; 7% more as of July 1, 2022; and 7% more as of July 1, 2023. Workers active in 2020 also will receive a $1,000 bonus. And on July 1, 2024, all workers will receive $2 an hour more, which will most benefit those at the bottom end of the scale.
The deal also guarantees health benefits for all workers and their families if the employees work at least four hours a day. And some workers will get the increased hours they said they needed.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho had warned that demands from the Local 99 and the teachers union could put the district on the brink of insolvency. But on Friday, he said the deal was structured in a way that staggered the spending, making it affordable.
