Unions press LAUSD for higher pay, transparency on subcontracting as board weighs budget

Multiple labor partners told the board Dec. 16 that contract talks with the district have stalled and that frontline workers — cafeteria staff, custodians, campus aides and special‑education assistants — are struggling with low pay and understaffed sites.

A UTLA speaker asked the board to direct the superintendent to return to bargaining with SEIU Local 99 and urged new transparency for district contracting, saying the district "chooses not to include its contracts in board materials" and alleging a rise in subcontracting. An SEIU member who formerly worked as a special‑education assistant and school‑climate advocate said staffing shortages force workers to perform multiple roles, which harms students and leaves workers underpaid.

Labor speakers also raised data points to illustrate financial strain — describing housing and food insecurity among workers — and warned of a strike vote. Maria Nichols (AALA Teamsters) and Gil Gomez (LA School Police Officers Association) also addressed the board on staffing and outsourcing, with union leaders calling for concrete movement in bargaining and better protections for classified staff.

Board members responded by noting the administration’s upcoming budget actions and by passing the first‑interim certification later in the meeting; labor leaders told the board that the certification and the FSP do not resolve bargaining disputes. The district’s adoption of workforce stabilization set‑asides to cover offers already made was cited during the budget item; labor representatives and several board members said they would continue negotiating funding and implementation details.

The unions also asked the board to demand that the superintendent make contracting more transparent and to ensure that district procurement does not erode worker protections or student safety.