LAUSD and non-teaching employees union set for mediation session

A mediation session was scheduled for Thursday between representatives of the Los Angeles Unified School District and the union representing thousands of non-teacher district employees with a possible strike just days away.

If SEIU Local 99 Education Workers United is unable to reach an agreement with the district, it is expected to strike along with two other unions that are also seeking new contracts. The union represents district cafeteria workers, special education assistants, custodians and bus drivers.

SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias said in a statement that a strike is a “last resort.” The union remains open to discussions with the LAUSD, Arias said.

LAUSD has maintained it is negotiating in good faith, and has offered a contract proposal that supports employees while also protecting the long-term financial stability of the district.

The district has offered a 13% salary increase over three years, but the union has demanded more.

Local 99 is also seeking more stable work schedules, and to prevent recently announced layoffs to some of its members. The LAUSD Board of Education had approved about 700 layoffs in a bid to address budget issues.

The negotiations between LAUSD and Local 99 come one day after talks between representatives of the district and United Teachers Los Angeles, which represents the district’s teachers.

For the teachers, the district offered a one-time bonus of 3% for the current school year, followed by a permanent salary increase of 4% starting July 1, a subsequent 4% increase beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and 2% more on Jan. 1, 2028, according to the Los Angeles Times. Delays in raises could save the district money.

UTLA is seeking a 13% increase of a starting teacher’s salary from $68,695 to $77,670. Additionally, the union is calling for significant increases to the automatic raises teachers receive based on experience and education credentials.

“Our proposals to UTLA alone have an ongoing cost of $480M and reflect significant increases over prior proposals, demonstrating the district’s good faith efforts toward reaching agreements,” the LAUSD said in a statement.

Meanwhile, AALA/Teamsters Local 2010, which represents principals and administrators with teaching credentials, are also seeking a 7% salary increase for the current school year, followed by a 6% increase for the next school year, according to The Times.

The LAUSD has offered a 4% increase instead, followed by another 4% in 2027.

If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the three unions are prepared to walk out as soon as Tuesday, they said. Even if two of the three unions reach an agreement, it would still disrupt LAUSD campuses.

Also on Thursday, parents, students, educators and community groups with Reclaim Our Schools LA will hold a news conference urging the LAUSD to reach a fair contract agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles and SEIU Local 99. Speakers will include Víctor Sánchez of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson of Students Deserve and representatives from several parent and community organizations.