Los Angeles Schools Secure Agreement, Avoid Strike Impacting 400,000 Students

Tue Apr 14 2026 15:50:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

After intense negotiations, the Los Angeles school district and the SEIU Local 99 union reached a tentative deal that secures essential protections and raises for support staff, averting a major strike that would have disrupted education for nearly 400,000 students.

Los Angeles schools managed to avert a strike that could have affected around 400,000 students after the school district and SEIU Local 99 union reached a tentative agreement, which includes significant gains such as raises and protections against layoffs. Teachers and other unions had prepared for a strike but will continue to work until the final details are confirmed.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a significant development for education in Southern California, Los Angeles schools have successfully dodged a strike that threatened to affect nearly 400,000 students. Early Tuesday, the school district and the union representing support staff, SEIU Local 99, announced a tentative agreement following serious negotiations.

SEIU Local 99 disclosed via social media that the deal includes major gains such as raises for support staff and an increase in work hours. The district confirmed that a preliminary agreement has been reached with the union, ensuring that schools would remain open.

The union emphasized that the agreement also includes vital protections against subcontracting, halting IT layoffs, and enhancing staffing levels. SEIU Local 99 urged its members to report to work as usual and acknowledged the solidarity of fellow unions and the support of the Los Angeles community, stating, this victory belongs to ALL of us.

Prior to this agreement, teachers, principals, and staff were prepared to walk out for a strike if negotiations failed. Unions representing teachers and principals had also reached tentative contracts with the nation's second-largest school district over the weekend.

All three unions involved collectively represent approximately 70,000 workers across the Los Angeles Unified School District. If a deal had not been reached by Tuesday, they had committed to striking together, a first in their history. In previous instances, such as in 2023 when Local 99 went on strike, schools remained partially operational with administrators stepping in to keep educational services ongoing.