Negotiations between the Los Angeles Unified School District and its teachers’ union stretched into Saturday without an agreement, leaving the possibility of a strike next Tuesday unresolved.
As of early evening, neither United Teachers Los Angeles nor district officials had provided updates on the status of negotiations. A spokesperson for LAUSD said Saturday negotiations were continuing throughout the weekend.
“The district remains committed to reaching agreements that support employees while also protecting the long-term financial stability of the district,” the spokesperson said.
The bargaining session marked the latest effort to resolve the dispute over wages, staffing and working conditions between LAUSD and its largest union, which represents roughly 37,000 teachers, counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and librarians.
UTLA’s 150-member bargaining team last met with the district negotiators Wednesday during a session that stretched from morning into the night.
UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz said in a statement Thursday that “While there was some constructive engagement, the district must do more to address critical issues like staffing, student mental health, and livable wages for educators.”
It was not immediately clear whether negotiations would continue into Saturday night or resume Sunday as both sides work to reach an agreement ahead of a potential strike on Tuesday.
An agreement could come down to the final hours before a potential walkout, as labor deals are often reached shortly before employees are scheduled to report to work on the day of a potential strike. According to the district, schools remain open Monday.
The standoff also comes as LAUSD faces pressure from multiple labor groups at once, including UTLA, Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 support staff, and the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, which represents about 3,000 administrators.
Together, the three unions represent roughly 70,000 employees, the vast majority of the district’s 83,000-person workforce. If all three unions were to strike, it would mark the first time they have walked out at the same time, significantly raising the stakes of the ongoing negotiations. The move could disrupt instruction for more than 400,000 students across the nation’s second-largest district.
SEIU Local 99, which represents bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and special education assistants, said late Thursday that no agreement had been reached and that it remained on track for a potential strike.
At the time, a spokesperson for the union said no additional bargaining sessions were scheduled following a failed mediation effort earlier in the day.
In recent days, SEIU Local 99 has also ramped up its public messaging, saying in a social media post Saturday that its members are “strike ready.”
A union spokesperson didn’t immediately respond Saturday to a question about whether additional bargaining sessions had been scheduled for the weekend.
Leaders of AALA have also signaled they’re preparing for a possible strike. Union leaders said Thursday and Friday that no additional bargaining sessions had been scheduled and that they were continuing strike preparations in coordination with other labor groups.
It was not immediately clear how a settlement with one union might affect the others. Labor leaders have expressed solidarity, raising the possibility that workers could refuse to cross picket lines or take action in support of one another.
A similar dynamic played out in 2023, when UTLA members joined a three-day walkout by SEIU Local 99 in solidarity, effectively shutting down schools across the district.
The unions remain divided from the district largely over wages, staffing and working conditions, among other issues, though each group has emphasized different priorities.
UTLA leaders have called for higher raises, smaller class sizes, increased support staff and limits on subcontracting. The union has said its proposal would average about a 17% increase for members, while the district has offered a package that includes a one-time bonus and phased raises totaling roughly 8% over time, which officials say reflects financial constraints.
SEIU Local 99 has pushed for higher wages and more stable work schedules, saying many workers earn about $35,000 a year and struggle to qualify for health benefits due to reduced hours. The union has criticized the district’s proposed offer of a 13% increase over three years as insufficient to lift its workers out of poverty.
Leaders of AALA have similarly focused on salary increases, with union proposals calling for larger raises earlier in the contract than those offered by the district. District officials have proposed roughly 10% raises over three years, while union leaders argue the offer does not keep pace with rising costs and increased workloads.
