LAUSD, SEIU Reach New Labor Agreement A Day After Three Day Strike

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) reached an agreement and a new contract on Friday, ending the nearly year long period of negotiations that also resulted in a three-day strike this week.

Going into negotiations this week, the SEIU, which represents most non-teacher employees within the LAUSD, such as cafeteria workers, special education assistants, janitors, and bus drivers, demanded at least a 30% increase in wages, as well as a $2 per hour equity wage, increased hours and health care benefits for part-time workers, better cleanliness in schools, and more hiring to make up for staff shortages. The LAUSD, meanwhile, offered a 5% wage increase retroactive to July 2021, another 5% increase retroactive to  July 2022, and a 5% increase starting this July, as well as more bonuses.

With the SEIU refusing to negotiate more, they announced a three day strike this week between Tuesday and Thursday. Despite intervention by Mayor Karen Bass to bring the SEIU back to the negotiation table, no deal was reached by the end of the strike Thursday. However, both sides finally came to an agreement on a new contract the next day. While the LAUSD had to slightly raise amounts they had given in their last offer, the final new contract also came nowhere near the 30% the SEIU had demanded earlier this year.

In total, raises under the new deal will include a 6% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2021, a 7% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2022, a 7% ongoing wage increase effective July 1, 2023, and a $2 per hour increase for all employees effective January 1, 2024. In addition, a bonus of $1,000 will be given to all employees who were with the district in the 2020-2021 school year, with a new minimum wage of $22.52 an hour for all LAUSD workers.

Part-time employees working more than 4 hours a day will also receive health benefits, more hours and pay for special needs professionals, and an investment of $3 million in an Education and Professional Development Fund for SEIU members. In total, the average salary is expected to jump from $25,000 to $33,000 a year, which is both a large gain as well as far less than what the SEIU was seeking.

A new agreement for the LAUSD, SEIU

“I am appreciative of SEIU Local 99’s leadership for coming back to the table to negotiate an agreement that addresses the needs of our employees and brings students back to the classroom,” said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Friday. “We also thank Mayor Bass for her support and leadership in facilitating negotiations. When we started negotiating with SEIU, we promised to deliver on three goals. We wanted to honor and elevate the dignity of our workforce and correct well-known, decades-long inequities impacting the lowest-wage earners. We wanted to continue supporting critical services for our students. We wanted to protect the financial viability of the District for the long haul. Promises made, promises delivered.”

When we started negotiating with SEIU, we promised to honor the dignity of our workforce, correct inequities impacting the lowest-wage earners, continue supporting critical student services and protect the District's financial viability. Promises made, promises delivered. https://t.co/Ntx5dgqiyT

— Alberto M. Carvalho (@LAUSDSup) March 25, 2023

The SEIU also noted that “After 3 historic days of a strike led by SEIU Local 99 members, our Bargaining Team is proud to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with LAUSD! Our fight brought our city and country together. WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN!!!”

🚨Breaking News: After 3 historic days of a strike led by SEIU Local 99 members, our Bargaining Team is proud to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with LAUSD! Our fight brought our city and country together. WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN!!!!✊🏾✊🏿https://t.co/QCUkrFbYDA pic.twitter.com/D1mDfonY80

— SEIU Local 99 (@SEIULocal99) March 25, 2023

Labor experts on Friday said that while both sides were trying to spin the situation as a win, the LAUSD was likely the one who gained more out of the new agreement.

“I would have to say that Carvalho and the district managed to coast into something agreeable for them, while the SEIU made some gains but didn’t get fully what they wanted,” explained Tyrone Levy, a former counsel for two labor unions, to the Globe on Friday. “The fact that they had to drag the SEIU back to the table rather than the district kind of says a lot. And look what happened in the end. They only got some of the raises they wanted, they didn’t get nearly all of the hiring they wanted, and they blanked on some of the issues.”

“Meanwhile, the district didn’t have to go to the cleaners and looks like they don’t have to go into the red to make up for these wage increases and added benefits. Also, they both noted Mayor Bass getting in on the negotiations. She was even at the agreement signing.”

We have a deal.

I want to thank @SEIULocal99 Executive Director @ariasmaxs and @LASchools @LAUSDSup for working together with me to put our families first.

Together, we take a step forward for the young people of Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/UzwlbBVS4U

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) March 25, 2023

“But she kind of also hurt the union a bit by forcing them back to the table, because now they had to give a counter. She is very obviously pro-union, but if she was, she would have demanded that the district sweeten their deal or something else. That’s usually what happens. But no, she went the more public route and dragged the union back, making them make the next move. Both Bass and the Union were sort of scrambling on this, and the LAUSD played it cool, made logical offers, and won out by not only appeasing workers, but not harming the school district as much financially as it could have been.”

The new contract is to go into effect immediately.