LOS ANGELES — LA Unified School District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said he will meet at any time with Service Employees International Union leaders, who have threatened to strike over hourly pay and benefits.

What You Need To Know

• About 30,000 bus drivers, custodians, special education assistants and cafeteria employees work for LAUSD and belong to SEIU Local 99


• Last month, SEIU workers voted to authorize a strike if negotiations with the district failed


• The union has made multiple demands, including a 30% wage increase plus a $2 per hour equity wage adjustment effective July 1 this year


• The district has countered with more than 15% in wage increases over three years and an equity adjustment for employees making less than $30 per hour

“I will make myself available day and night to solve this issue and prevent a strike,” Carvalho said Wednesday at LAUSD headquarters in downtown LA, hours before SEIU members were scheduled to rally. “Let it not be written or said that if a strike happens, it’s because we were not willing to do everything we could to avoid it.”

About 30,000 bus drivers, custodians, special education assistants and cafeteria employees work for LAUSD and belong to SEIU Local 99, which has planned a protest at Grand Park Wednesday afternoon at which they could announce a strike that would force schools to close for three days. Last month, SEIU workers voted to authorize a strike if negotiations with the district failed.

The union has made...

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