LA Teachers Vote Whether to Strike

L.A. Teachers Vote On Strike

Los Angeles teachers vote on whether to authorize a strike. ThinkProgress: “On Thursday, Los Angeles teachers begin voting on whether to authorize a strike. While an authorization doesn’t mean that the strike will take place right away, if the union chooses to strike, it would be the first since a nine-day strike in 1989. It may also be the biggest action since 2009, when thousands of Los Angeles teachers called in sick after hearing about possible teacher layoffs. The voting process will end on August 30. The teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), says it has been at an impasse with the Los Angeles Unified School District for some time. Teachers are asking for smaller class sizes, reductions in standardized testing, a 2 percent bonus, 6.5 percent salary increases and a $500 stipend for materials and supplies, according to California News Wire Services. Teachers are also interested in expanding charter school accountability, spending more money on ethnic studies and bilingual education, and creating school climate and discipline plans, according to a recent open letter from the union.”