A latest legal effort by the Los Angeles school district has so far failed to prevent a three-day strike scheduled for Tuesday, but district officials said Sunday that their case is still being considered by a state labor board and that a decision could be reached. as soon as possible. as soon as Monday.
LA Unified had argued that the strike, by Service Employees International Local 99, is illegal, arguing that the union’s official justification is not the real reason for the strike. Local 99 has stated that the purpose of the strike is to protest alleged unfair labor practices by the district; LA Unified claims the union walkout is about pressuring the district to improve its salary offer.
The school system had applied for an injunction from the California Labor Relations Board that would have slowed or halted the strike, and this was denied.
Local 99 declared victory Sunday in the legal contest.
The regulators’ decision on Sunday “confirms that workers have the right to protest the threats and harassment that the school district has meted out to them,” said Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias. “They will continue to move forward with plans to attack this week. Their voices will not be silenced.”
District officials said the case is still active.
“The PERB Board has directed its Office of General Counsel to expedite prosecution of the district’s underlying unfair practice charge against SEIU Local 99, which alleges SEIU and its members are engaging in an illegal 3-day strike,” officials said. of the district on Sunday in a statement. “Contrary to SEIU’s claims,” the issue has yet to be determined, according to the statement.
LAUSD officials said they have no choice but to “continue to prepare for the unfortunate reality of school closures and remain available to negotiate a resolution to outstanding issues, which we believe could be resolved … between now and Tuesday.”
With the three-day strike looming, district officials, union members and the families of 420,000 students planned and mobilized on Sunday to cause a massive disruption in the nation’s second-largest school district.
