30,000 teachers' aides, bus drivers, others strike at Calif. schools

Robert Besser
25 Mar 2023, 05:58 GMT+10

Some 30,000 education workers in Los Angeles, backed by teachers, went on a three-day strike, canceling school for some 420,000 students
The Service Employees International Union Local 99 is seeking to increase the average $25,000 per year wage of many of their members
Outside the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters, thousands of workers pledged to continue their pickets for another two days, under the banner, "United for LA Schools"

LOS ANGELES, California: Some 30,000 education workers in Los Angeles, backed by teachers, went on a three-day strike, canceling school for some 420,000 students in the second-largest US school district.

The Service Employees International Union Local 99 is seeking to increase the average $25,000 per year wage of many of their members, who include school bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and classroom assistants.

Outside the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters, thousands of workers pledged to continue their pickets for another two days, under the banner, "United for LA Schools."

The service workers are supported by the 35,000 members of the teachers' union United Teachers Los Angeles, who refused to cross their picket lines.

Many education workers have complained about burnout and low wages, leading to a teacher shortage in many parts of the US.

LA schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho admitted that workers have been underpaid for years, stressing that he was committed to reaching an agreement with their union.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reported that the union, which said 96 percent of its membership had authorized the strike, is demanding a 30 percent salary increase, plus an additional $2 per hour for low-paid workers.

Carvalho has said that the district was offering a 23 percent pay increase, plus a 3 percent bonus, adding "There are still additional resources to put on the table."

Staff burnout has been an issue for many years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional stress on teachers, leading many to leave to work in the private sector for better pay.

A 2022 survey by the largest labor union in the United States, the National Education Association, found that 55 percent of educators were thinking of leaving the profession, and 86 percent said they have seen more colleagues resign since the start of the pandemic.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.

More Information

25 ℃

Fair in Mexico City Intl

Lifestyle

Section

Ireland prepares laws to end e-cigarette, vaping sales to teens

DUBLIN, Ireland: The Government of Ireland is preparing legislation to outlaw vaping, and the sale of vaping products, to those ...

"It is not just my case or wrestlers who are fighting today, it is about greater societal problems," says singer Chinmayi Sripaada

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] June 1 (ANI): Playback singer and dubbing artist Chinmayi Sripaada has raised her voice against lyricist ...

Biometric, eye impressions of people coming from neighboring countries are also being taken: Amit Shah in Manipur

Imphal (Manipur) [India], June 1 (ANI): On the last day of his four-day visit to Manipur, Union Home Minister Amit ...

BRICS nations should approach key contemporary issues constructively, collectively: EAM Jaishankar

Cape Town [South Africa], June 1 (ANI): External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said that the BRICS nations ...

Assam: Mega public rallies in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies to mark Modi govt completing 9 years

Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 1 (ANI):To mark the completion of 9 years of the Modi government and to make preparations ...

Abrogation of Article 370 helped in making Srinagar's G20 meet a big success

By Dr Amjad Ayub MirzaSrinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 1 (ANI): The three-day session of the G-20 Tourism Working ...

International

Section

Movie Review

The Past (Le pass)

Past