Tensions continue to rise between the Los Angeles Unified School District and its teachers union, which this week called on its members to boycott all after-school faculty meetings until a labor contract agreement is reached.
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the union representing 35,000 district teachers, wants the boycotts to demonstrate the power of members’ collective action and put pressure on the district to meet their bargaining demands.
“As we continue to escalate our contract fight, it makes sense to show that like a faucet, we can turn our labor on and off when we need to in order to get what we and our students need and deserve,” said Ryan Andrews, English teacher and UTLA chapter vice-chair at Bethune Middle School, adding that all UTLA members on his campus participated in this week’s boycott.
🙅♂️ No more faculty meetings – my coworkers and I are boycotting until we get the contract we and our students deserve! @UTLAnow #UTLAStrong pic.twitter.com/KANOC9u0y4
— Ryan Andrews (@RyanAndrewsUTLA) April 11, 2023
This move comes on the heels of a fiery unfair labor practice charge, filed by the union in response to new instructional calendars and a highly disruptive three-day strike. The district declined to comment on the faculty meeting boycott.
The recent strike was led by SEIU Local 99 — the union representing bus drivers, custodians, instructional aides, cafeteria workers and special education assistants — and resulted in a historic new contract agreement with considerable pay bumps for union members. UTLA members walked off the job in solidarity with the striking services workers, but have yet to reach a contract agreement of their own.
UTLA’s contract demands include a 20% pay raise over time, smaller class sizes, more funding for student mental health services and updated technology for students and staff.
The union argues that the district can afford to meet these demands with its estimated $5.12 billion…
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