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School workers who shut down education for around half a million pupils in Los Angeles this week with a three-day strike have won a 30 percent pay hike.
Bus drivers, cafeteria workers and special education assistants employed by Los Angeles Unified School District — the second biggest in the United States — halted work on Tuesday demanding an end to what they called ‘poverty wages.’
With teachers refusing to cross the picket lines, the county’s huge public school system simply ground to a halt.
After talks between the Service Employees International Union Local 99 and the LAUSD board, a tentative deal was announced Friday effectively meeting the union’s demand for a boost in pay by nearly a third.
Max Arias, left, Executive Director of SEIU Local 99 holds his fist high as he stands arm and arm with Mayor Karen Bass, center, and Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District as the Los Angeles Unified School District reaches an agreement with the SEIU Local 99 at City Hall in Los Angeles on Friday
A tentative deal has been reached to end a labor dispute involving the Los Angeles Unified School District and tens of thousands of union workers. Pictured, the workers are seen during a strike day earlier this week
Tens of thousands of public school employees including bus drivers, food service workers, custodians and teacher aides took part in a three-day strike, calling for fair wages and benefits
Union members asked for a 30 per cent wage increase and better working conditions.Â
LAUSD initially offered a 23 per cent wage increase over the next five years. SEIU said its workers on average earn around $25,000 a year.Â
The union said the wage hike will increase the average salary of members from $25,000 a year to $33,000.Â
The proposed deal – which must be voted on by the membership – also includes a $1,000 bonus for all members who were with the district in the 2020-21 school year.
In its own statement, LAUSD said the deal ‘addresses historic pay inequities, creates a massive expansion of healthcare benefits for part-time employees, invests considerable resources into professional development for the workforce, all while maintaining financial stability for the district.’
An aerial view of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) workers and supporters rally at Los Angeles State Historic Park during the final day of their.three-day strike against the LAUSD
Despite the strike forcing around 400,000 students out of classes for three days, many parents stood in support of union employees.
‘This week, the eyes of our entire nation were on the cooks, custodians and classroom aides who make education possible in Los Angeles, a workforce overwhelmingly made up of women and people of color,’ said Max Arias, Executive Director of SEIU Local 99.Â
‘We emerged stronger than ever from this week’s strike and showed the entire nation that unions are the most powerful force for economic opportunity and equity. Members’ sacrifice, courage, and strength – and the solidarity of 35,000 teachers of UTLA – led to this moment.’Â
SEIU99 Executive Director Max Arias has led the support staff union into the strike and has insisted that the strike was the ‘ workers’ last resort’, arrived at only after nearly a year of bargaining for better wages
Local 99 represents around 30,000 teachers’ aides, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other support staff.Â
Los Angeles is one of America’s most pricey places to live, with high taxes and expensive grocery and utility bills.
Median rent in the city is $3,000 per month, according to property website Zillow.
The dispute was the latest labor disagreement to rattle the United States, and comes as Americans struggle with a persistent cost of living crisis, which has seen prices of everyday goods and services rocketing up over the last year or so.
Figures released last week showed the consumer price index rose six percent from a year ago.
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