Our strike was a watershed moment for public education: In six days, we galvanized the city, dominated national media coverage, won a ground-breaking contract, and learned that in the battle to reinvest in our schools, the public stands with us. With 34,000 members out, it was one of the biggest strikes in California history.
Our strike won an overwhelming victory on the issues. We launched the teacher strike movement in California and accelerated the teacher strike movement nationally. We made history. But what remains etched in our brains and hearts most indelibly is the togetherness, love, pride, and creative spark we felt on the picket lines and in the rallies.
UTLA endorsed and the right choice for school board member, District 5. During our six-day strike, Jackie Goldberg was a constant presence, speaking at rallies, talking with teachers, huddled under umbrellas in the rain and giving fire-up talks to picketers. She was on the line because she knows our fight was not just for a fair contract, but to push back against the privatizers.
Michelle King’s passing is a terrible loss — for her family, for her community, and for the Los Angeles Unified School District. King made education her life’s work, and she was devoted to upholding a public school system that serves all students.
Today the LAUSD School Board approved unanimously a historic UTLA contract that prioritizes what students need in their schools. This is a reaffirmation of the effectiveness of our 6-day strike and the overwhelming parent and public support for LA educators.
Teachers at three south Los Angeles charter schools operated by The Accelerated Schools voted today to approve a new labor agreement and to formally call for an end to their historic eight-day strike. With 78 educators casting ballots, 77 votes were yes (98.7%).
Members pass TA agreement by 81%. A super-majority of UTLA members have approved the tentative agreement reached with UTLA and LAUSD. Our strike and our unity on the picket lines have resulted in tremendous contract and policy victories. The strike made us stronger as a union for future struggles.
After six days on strike along with parents, students and community members across Los Angeles, we have reached a historic agreement that addresses major issues impacting our schools, students and professions. Links to the TA and summary can be found here.
We are making progress. The two sides were bargaining until late last night and have been bargaining around the clock since Thursday. We resumed talks early this morning. It is important to know, whether or not we reach an agreement late tonight, we will NOT be going to work on Tuesday.
UTLA members closed out the first week of our historic strike with a raucous and joyful rally with parents and students in front of City Hall, just steps away from where UTLA was bargaining with LAUSD. After four rainy days on the picket lines, the rally crowd basked in the sunshine and in the power of the collective movement we have built.
