For the second day in a row, Los Angeles public schools remain closed as workers and the teachers union continue to strike for better pay and working conditions.
The strike, led by the SEIU Local 99 union, has shut down schools in the nation’s second-largest school district, impacting 420,000 students and their families.
The union, which represents 30,000 non-teacher workers, including custodians, special education assistants, and cafeteria workers, is demanding a 30 percent pay increase.
The latest offer from the district is a 23 percent increase with a three percent bonus for 2020-2021.
The teachers’ union, UTLA, has joined the strike in solidarity.
The district and the union are continuing to negotiate, with the strike set to continue for one more day.
Meanwhile, the workers are rallying to demand respect and better pay, with many struggling to make ends meet on an average salary of $25,000 a year.
