LAUSD school workers vote overwhelmingly to ratify contract agreement
Thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District service workers overwhelmingly approved a new district contract with over 99% of the SEIU Local 99 members voting in favor of the deal, union representatives said Saturday.
School custodians, food service workers, bus drivers, special education assistants and other members of SEIU Local 99 fought for the new agreement, causing a three-day districtwide school closure in March, hoping to lift essential workers out of poverty by demanding higher wages and other benefits.
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One day after the three-day strike concluded, LAUSD and SEIU 99 reached what has been called a historic agreement.
Highlights of the agreement include:
• A 30% wage increase raising the average annual salary from $25,000 to $33,000 for workers providing essential student services.
• $1000 recognition bonus for workers who worked during the pandemic
• Increased hours for many workers, including special education assistants
• Fully paid family health care benefits expanded to thousands of workers, including teachers' assistants, after-school program workers, and community representatives who run parent outreach centers.
"This contract recognizes the essential work of those who work hard to ensure students can learn in a clean, safe, and supportive environment," said Max Arias, Executive Director of SEIU Local 99. "It is a major step forward with significant improvements to wages, work hours, and benefits for dedicated education workers who have been left behind for far too long."
The contract still must be approved by the LAUSD Board of Education. A representative for the district said that vote is expected to occur at the next regular board meeting, set for April 18.
