After picketing through wind and rain without pay, LAUSD’s service workers have a much easier task this week: voting on whether to ratify their historic new labor contract agreement.
The agreement was reached on March 24, following a three-day strike that shut down classes for 420,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The new contract applies to members of SEIU Local 99, representing 30,000 cafeteria workers, bus drivers, instructional aides, custodians and special education assistants.
Labor leaders expect the agreement to sail through with its promises of an average 30% pay raise over time, healthcare benefits for members who work four or more hours a day, and extra hours for special education assistants. The vote is taking place in person and online from April 3 to April 7, with results announced April 8. Assuming it is ratified, the LAUSD School Board will vote on it at its April 18 meeting.
🚨📢Day 1 of Voting on our historic LAUSD Tentative Agreement! Voting will take place in-person and online from April 3 – 7. SEIU Local 99 members must vote on the agreement in order for it to be ratified. #99Strong pic.twitter.com/QLHkHrVcrR
— SEIU Local 99 (@SEIULocal99) April 3, 2023
“When we heard that they reached an agreement there was so much pride and joy on everyone’s faces,” said Fatima Grayson, a special education assistant. “I walked into the cafeteria and the (food service) women were smiling. They were making $16.91 an hour and now they’re going to be making $22.52. That’s a huge, huge difference.”
The agreement will likewise be game-changing for Grayson, who has worked with the district for 24 years and has struggled to make ends meet for herself and her daughter.
“The money is definitely essential. It’s going to help me sleep at night,” said Grayson. “Currently, I get a paycheck, I pay the bills that I can and possibly hold on to $200 to put gas in the tank to make it to work for another two weeks, and…
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