Los Angeles Unified officials are mounting a last-ditch legal challenge to stall or prevent a three-day strike that would shut down classrooms across the nation’s second-largest school district starting on Tuesday.
The district has asked state labor regulators to issue an injunction to halt the strike, alleging that it is illegal. District sources acknowledged that they don’t know if the state Public Employment Relations Board will act on the filing in time to prevent the strike.
The challenge cites the unusual legal basis and timing of the walkout, which would occur before the typical step-by-step bargaining process has been completed.
The strike is being led by Local 99 of Service Employees International Union, which represents about 30,000 bus drivers, teacher aides, campus security aides, special education assistants, custodians, gardeners and cafeteria workers. Leaders of United Teachers Los Angeles have encouraged their members to join the walkout. UTLA represents about 35,000 teachers, nurses, counselors, therapists and librarians.
Each union is on a separate negotiating track with L.A. Unified. Local 99 is further along in the process, having reached the fact-finding stage, according to documents filed with state labor regulators.
Generally, fact-finding would be completed before a strike. In addition, both sides also would have to present their “last, best and final offer.”
But this job action is different.
It is, in effect, a protest by Local 99 in response to...
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