Moss was elected president of the nation鈥檚 largest teachers union July 5, replacing Becky Pringle, who was unable to run again because of term limits. Following six years as NEA vice president, Moss will inherit a union that鈥檚 recently increased membership and is facing challenges like a new federal school choice program, restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion and the dismantling of the Education Department.

When she announced her candidacy last year, she said she wasn鈥檛 running for the title of president, but instead to lead a movement. She said she wants to start by embedding organizing priorities into daily union work across the nation. 

鈥淩ecent victories 鈥� from Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act to Portland’s transformative strike 鈥� showcase the power of our collective action,鈥� Moss said on her . 鈥淲hile these efforts have produced important victories, they also frequently required us to rebuild momentum with each new challenge. What if, instead of restarting every time, we maintained a continuous level of readiness?鈥�

Moss said local organizing creates lasting change and that it鈥檚 time for the NEA to be a union in which every member can be involved.

鈥淢y vision is a natural evolution from resistance to renaissance,鈥� she said in a campaign . 鈥淩ather than responding to others’ visions of education, we’ll assert our professional authority to shape the future. Instead of organizing primarily through political identity, we’ll unite around issues that transcend partisan divisions.鈥�

Moss declined multiple requests from 社区黑料 for an interview.

As president, Moss will lead 2.8 million members 鈥� about 90% of whom are working educators, according to the union鈥檚 latest federal labor . While membership has increased since the 2023-24 school year, it is still below pre-pandemic levels.听

The NEA has not only become vocal about in recent years, but has dealt with controversies around antisemitism and staffing issues within its own organization. 

The union was involved in multiple lawsuits last year, including a fighting a Trump administration 鈥淒ear Colleague鈥� letter that sought to crack down on school diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The directive was later by the U.S. Department of Education. In April, a federal civil rights complaint alleged that the NEA discriminated against Jewish members. The conflict led to the approval of to protect union delegates at its July representative assembly.

At the union’s annual assembly two years ago, a three-day strike by the NEA鈥檚 own unionized staff interrupted sessions and a planned speech by then-President Joe Biden. Employees were later locked out of their jobs.

When asked in an about upcoming challenges, Moss characterized the new federal school choice program as an 鈥渋ntentional plan to destroy education.鈥�

鈥淲e have been on defense for too long,鈥� Moss at the union’s July 4 representative assembly. 鈥淲e have been defending funding, defending rights, defending the very existence of public education. We must go on the offense.鈥�

The union Moss鈥� work for some of its political accomplishments, such as when she joined Biden to sign the Social Security Fairness Act into law following her advocacy with local educators and NEA affiliates.

鈥淧rincess is an outspoken, sought-after advocate on the topics of racial and social justice in education,鈥� NEA in a statement. 鈥淭o Princess, and to the entire NEA, every child and every student 鈥� no matter their parents鈥� incomes, where they live, the language they speak at home, their race, religion, ethnicity, gender identification or physical capabilities 鈥� deserves to attend a great public school.鈥�

Moss in Bumpass, Virginia, a town located 30 minutes from the nearest grocery store. She said in a campaign document that her passion for education sparked in second grade, when her teacher made her feel like the smartest person in the world despite misspelling the word 鈥渞efrigerator鈥� during the class spelling bee.

鈥淗aving to give up marching band as a teen because my parents could not make the commitment to picking me up after games drives my concern for rural communities in particular, and the various educational inequities overall that demand targeted resources,鈥� Moss said about her vision for NEA president.

The child of two school bus drivers, Moss in 1983 in Louisa County, Virginia. She was in the classroom for 21 years before she was elected president of the Virginia Education Association in 2005. 

鈥淧rincess is one of us, and she always has been,鈥� Carol Bauer, current Virginia Education Association president, said in a . 鈥淲e have watched her carry our values to the national stage for years. Now she carries them all the way to the top. Every educator in the commonwealth should feel this win in their bones, because it belongs to all of us. We are proud, we are ready and we are going to organize right alongside her.鈥�

Similar legislation introduced last year was backed by the United Federation of Teachers in an effort to address the city鈥檚 paraprofessional shortage. After the bill failed to move out of committee, it was in February by multiple council members. 

If Mamdani signs the bill, full-time paraprofessionals will receive four payments of $2,500 throughout the 2026-27 school year. The allows the council to reauthorize stipends each year as long as New York City Public Schools has a paraprofessional shortage or until the city changes the practice of 鈥� a local policy that lets the salary increases negotiated for one municipal union’s contract set the pattern for all the others.

The United Federation of Teachers and council members said pattern bargaining has contributed to low paraprofessional pay.

鈥淥nce the initial bargaining pattern is established, it becomes an enormous challenge to get the city to grant significantly better terms to another union,鈥� the United Federation of Teachers said on its .

New paraprofessionals earn roughly $32,000 in the city. Over the past 20 years, have increased nearly $12,000 for paraprofessionals but top $86,000 for the highest-paid principals.

鈥淲e are going to pass this bill and we are going to put it on the desk of the mayor of New York City saying that the paraprofessionals have been unjustly treated and we are in a crisis,鈥� said UFT President Michael Mulgrew at a at New York City Hall on Thursday. 鈥淎nd the paraprofessionals are dealing with that crisis each and every day with their work, going above and beyond, and now it鈥檚 time for our city to act and do the right thing.鈥�

Mamdani supported the bill while campaigning but expressed concern after he took office, compensation should be handled only in the collective bargaining process. He has 30 days to decide whether to sign the bill, according to the . If he vetoes it, the legislation will go back to the council, and members can override his veto with a two-thirds vote. If he doesn鈥檛 sign or veto the bill, it will become law.

Priscilla Castro, president of the paraprofessional chapter of the United Federation of Teachers, said several paras from each New York City borough gathered at City Hall as the bill went through a committee vote. 

鈥淭oday, we鈥檙e making a change. It鈥檚 a movement. We will not stop until we get this legislation passed and bring it home,鈥� she .

During the council vote, members said paraprofessional pay raises were overdue and are crucial to rewarding some of the hardest-working school employees in the city.

Shirley Aldebol, chair of the council committee that passed the bill, said during voting on Thursday that the payments are the first step toward fixing the city鈥檚 paraprofessional staffing crisis. New York City Public Schools was short more than 1,500 support staff last year. 

鈥淧araprofessionals are critical members of our school environment, providing instructional, behavioral and physical support to students with disabilities,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have a deep respect for the collective bargaining process. This bill’s structure does not interfere, in my view, with mandatory subjects of collective bargaining, as it does not attempt to legislate wages or benefits and matters that must be resolved at the bargaining table.鈥�

Moss won the election with 50.3% of votes from a delegate assembly of nearly 6,000 members, according to the union. She narrowly avoided a with Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, who received 31.2% of votes. Moss is the successor to Becky Pringle, who was president for two three-year terms and was unable to run again because of term limits.

Sean Spiller, former president of the New Jersey Education Association and a past candidate for governor, received 17.4% of votes, while Tania Kappner, an Oakland Unified School District teacher, secured 0.94%.

鈥淭ogether, we will continue fighting for the resources, respect and professional voice educators deserve because when we invest in public education, we invest in the future of every student,鈥� Moss said in a . 鈥淚 look forward to building on our union’s proud legacy and working alongside our members to ensure every student, in every zip code, has access to a high-quality public education.”

Noel Candelaria, a special education teacher from El Paso, Texas, was after serving as the union鈥檚 secretary-treasurer. Robert Varela Rodriguez was elected secretary-treasurer. He previously taught special ed in California’s San Bernardino City Unified School District before serving on the NEA鈥檚 executive committee and board of directors.

NEA鈥檚 new leadership will take office Sept. 1, according to the .

The 6,500-member union has been negotiating for nearly a year with San Francisco Unified School District, which has roughly 50,000 students. The district closed more than 100 schools on Monday as the union solidified a strike roughly a week after members approved a walkout in two rounds of voting. More than 250 principals, office clerks and custodians in two other unions also went on a in solidarity. 

Negotiations stalled because of disagreements over pay raises, health care coverage and working conditions for special education teachers. 

鈥淲hat this contract represents is stability for San Francisco Unified for years to come, and its commitment to us and coming to an agreement immediately will secure the schools that San Franciscans deserve,鈥� said union President Cossandra Curiel at a outside Mission High School. 鈥淵ou can expect to see strong picket lines until that agreement is achieved.鈥�

The union is sticking to its for a 9% and 14% pay raise for teachers and paraprofessionals, respectively, over the two-year contract. The current starting for a teacher with a bachelor鈥檚 degree is $73,689. The paraprofessional hourly is $31.52. 

Union officials are also asking for 100% health care coverage, along with caseload limits and more time for administrative tasks for special education staff. 

After multiple hours-long bargaining sessions this weekend, the district with a 6% raise over two years. It proposed implementing the union鈥檚 demand for a new special education workload model as a pilot program at five schools through June 2028. Curiel said Monday that district officials offered 75% health coverage.

San Francisco Unified officials have a $102 million budget deficit makes it impossible to meet the union鈥檚 demands. The union said the district can cover the increased costs with its budget reserve. 

鈥淲e understand that they are under a form of strain from the state, or that’s what their excuse has been up to now,鈥� Curiel said. 鈥淲e see that they have a reserve of almost $400 million. We believe that today’s dollars are for today’s students.鈥�

The district the $400 million is not in reserves, but is already budgeted to prevent layoffs and address the deficit. 

鈥淯sing a one-time fund balance for permanent raises creates a funding cliff,鈥� the district said in a . 鈥淥nce the one-time money runs out, the district would be forced to make even deeper cuts to classrooms and lay off more staff to cover the ongoing cost.鈥�

San Francisco Unified does have $111 million in its reserve fund, but the district said that money is for emergencies.

Superintendent Maria Su said in a that the district鈥檚 proposal 鈥減rovides fiscal certainty by matching spending to available resources鈥� and 鈥渒eeps the district on a clear runway to exit state oversight.鈥� The state started in 2024 because of projected budget deficits.

鈥淟et me be clear, I do not want a prolonged strike,鈥� Su said in a Sunday night. 鈥淚 do not want a strike at all.鈥�

Curiel said the district and union did agree on a proposal to classify schools as for immigrant students, staff and families. The policy bars federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering school grounds or obtaining records without a criminal judicial warrant. Staff will also receive three hours of training to enforce these policies.

Teachers protested in front of several schools Monday morning and hosted a rally in the afternoon that featured Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers, the nation鈥檚 second-largest union for educators. On the in front of Mission High School, social studies teacher Cindy Castillo said she鈥檚 striking to improve school stability.

鈥淪tability means that we can retain our educators of color and our students and families of color. It means we can fully staff security, who can build relationships with our students and prevent violence and harm,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t means our students and families feel safe and supported.鈥�

Matt Alexander, president of the San Francisco Unified school board, he supports the strike and believes it’s a necessary step.

鈥淚 am so proud of these educators for standing up for what is right,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 strike for the first time in half a century takes courage. It takes sacrifice. It was not what these educators wanted, but they’re willing to do what needs to be done to create the schools our students deserve.鈥�

The union鈥檚 political action committee began the 2024 cycle with $4 million in cash on hand, raised $12 million and has spent $13 million 鈥� leaving it with roughly $2 million to dole out before Election Day, according to the latest data from , the non-partisan organization that tracks money in politics.

The vast majority of its spending this election cycle 鈥� roughly $9 million 鈥� was donated to super PACs supporting Democrats and to local, state and federal candidates and parties. Among the top receivers: $3 million to the Senate Majority PAC, $1.6 to House Majority PAC, $445,000 to the Harris Victory Fund ($300,000 of which was originally donated to the Biden Victory Fund before the president stepped aside), and $420,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.  

The AFT is traditionally one of the biggest supporters of Democrats, lending both the power of its PAC鈥檚 purse for advertising and mailings, and its strength in numbers for boots-on-the-ground get-out-the-vote operations.

Among the top 20 PACs based on contributions to Democratic candidates, total fundraising, total spent, and total spent in independent expenditures and communication costs, the AFT鈥檚 PACs place 8th. It鈥檚 donated $1.5 million to democratic congressional candidates, including to 196 House Democrats and 19 Senate Democrats.

鈥淜amala Harris and Tim Walz believe in the promise of America and will spend their time solving problems, not sowing fear, so every American can partake in that promise,鈥� AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a . 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 not just what we can gain, it鈥檚 also what we will lose with Trump and Vance: our democracy, our freedoms, our public schools, our right to have a union, a vote and a voice. Extending the ladder of opportunity or destroying it.鈥� 

鈥淯nion members get this,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 why we will fight every hour of every day for the next fortnight to get out the vote to elect candidates who proudly stand for freedom, democracy and opportunity.鈥�

Earlier this month, the AFT teamed up with the National Education Association, the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees 鈥� the nation鈥檚 largest public service unions 鈥� in a coordinated, multi-state voter outreach initiative across battleground states.

鈥淭his joint action represents a significant escalation of labor’s political engagement, with the unions pooling resources and mobilizing their combined membership of several million workers and includes people of all backgrounds working across the public service 鈥� as nurses, child care providers, sanitation workers, first responders, teachers, education support professionals and higher education workers, among others,鈥� the of the effort reads.

Notably, labor unions play an outsized role in many of the election鈥檚 most crucial swing states: 21% of votes cast in Michigan in the 2020 presidential election were from union households, representing approximately one-fifth of the electorate, according to the union. The same is true for Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where union households accounted for 18% and 13% of votes cast, respectively.

Mayor Eric Adams and the city鈥檚 second-largest union, the United Federation of Teachers, struck a tentative five-year agreement on Tuesday, one that significantly raises starting salaries for newly hired teachers and includes a major expansion of remote learning.

The deal, which must be approved by the union鈥檚 120,000 members, guarantees raises of 17.58% to 20.42% by 2026, including compounded wage increases and bonuses.

In addition to broadening an existing pilot on remote learning, high schools and combined middle-high schools will be able to offer virtual learning programs after school and on weekends. Students and teachers will have to volunteer to participate in the remote programs, according to a summary of the agreement.

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The UFT and the Adams administration also agreed to a yearly, perpetual retention bonus, which will top out at $1,000 by 2026, and an additional one-time $3,000 ratification bonus.

The starting salary for new teachers would be $72,349, including the bonuses, by the end of the proposed agreement 鈥� up from the current $61,070 floor, according to the UFT. The top salary for paraprofessionals would be $56,761.

The deal is retroactive to September 2021, when the most recent contract expired. It provides for 3% raises for the first three years and 3.25% bonus in the final two years, a pattern similar to that in February.

Adams announced the agreement from the City Hall rotunda Tuesday afternoon alongside UFT President Michael Mulgrew, Schools Chancellor David Banks and Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud to announce that the city of New York has reached a tentative five-plus year contract agreement with the United Federation of Teachers that provides substantial wage increases for the people who teach, support and safeguard our children and secures a fair deal for taxpayers as well,鈥� Adams said.

Virtual Expansion

The after-hours virtual learning expansion in the nation鈥檚 largest school district that allows students to log in, from their own school buildings, to take online courses taught by public school teachers in other parts of the city.

The program outlined in Tuesday鈥檚 tentative agreement would begin in the 2023-2024 school year, with 25% of high schools eligible to be selected. All high schools will be eligible to participate by 2027-28, according to the UFT鈥檚 summary of the agreement.

Students and teachers would not be required to participate in virtual learning. Rather, schools where students miss hours or days of school because of work would be able to offer virtual lessons outside of traditional school hours. Teachers would not take extra time in order to teach the after-hours virtual lessons: their time will be redistributed.

Adams said he was 鈥減roud鈥� of the proposed remote learning experiment, saying it 鈥渨ill create new opportunities for our students, including those who want the ability to take classes at non-traditional times like evenings and weekends, as well as those whom traditional in-person schedules don鈥檛 work for.鈥�

Mulgrew also noted the remote-learning pilot would also benefit students who fall behind on literacy.

In line with the contract covering DC37 municipal workers, some UFT members who do not work directly in schools would be eligible to work remotely up to two days a week under the deal, according to the teachers鈥� union.

Campion and Mulgrew said health care premiums and benefits, a key concern for many union members, remain unchanged.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not getting rid of our benefits,鈥� Mulgrew said in response to questions from THE CITY. 鈥淚 wish the rest of America would do what we鈥檙e doing here in New York City because health care is a crisis and it is destroying the pocketbooks of so many families.鈥�

Mulgrew also announced the tentative agreement will cut in half 鈥� from 15 to eight years 鈥� the length of time it takes most teachers to reach a salary of $100,000.

The union president also highlighted the retention bonus as a win for members.

鈥淎nd that goes on forever, in perpetuity,鈥� Mulgrew said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e saying to all of our titles and every member, whether you鈥檙e in the first year or your 25th year, New York City is saying that we appreciate you, and we recognize the challenges that you take on every day.鈥�

Additional reporting by Katie Honan

THE CITY is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to hard-hitting reporting that serves the people of New York.

Judging from the rain and official rhetoric, it was a dark Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.

Officials at the Los Angeles Unified School District were predicting a rough three days for 420,000 students and their families as the district buckled in for a strike led by SEIU Local 99, which represents custodians, bus drivers, special ed assistants and other support staff. With members of United Teachers Los Angeles joining in solidarity, all schools were shut down.

Nearly work for a living, and about live below the poverty level. To support these families in particular, the district partnered with the city and county of Los Angeles to run food distribution sites and staff recreation centers for child care. 

But despite the gloom, a range of positive attitudes were on display: joy, good humor, conviction, hope. Local 99 and teachers union members huddled under tents against the rain at nearly 500 schools and sites across the district, according to Local 99. 

社区黑料 visited a handful of them and has these sketches to share. 

Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School, 6:46 a.m.

Strikers arrive slowly at Susan Miller Dorsey High School, still shaking off their sleep.

A squad of teachers union members wrestles a cover onto the extendable frame of a lawn tent. 

Special education teacher Stacia Trimmer, whose 15 years with the district have done little to blunt her Brooklyn accent, works hand in hand with special ed assistants, one of the units represented by Local 99. 

鈥淭hey work hard, and they love the children,鈥� she says.

The theme of the strike is respect, and Trimmer wonders whether everyone in the district, including teachers like herself, could better appreciate the contributions of Local 99’s members. 

鈥淢aybe we鈥檙e all guilty of it,鈥� she says. 鈥淢aybe we don鈥檛 speak to them enough.鈥� 

Another teacher puts on Rihanna鈥檚 鈥淏itch Better Have My Money,鈥� and Trimmer starts dancing.

The choice of music down the block, at the Local 99 tent, is a bit more subtle: Bob Marley鈥檚 鈥淒uppy Conqueror.鈥� Don鈥檛 try to show off鈥� For I will cut you off 鈥�

Fourteen strikers from both unions are gathered under two tents. 

Local 99 member and special ed assistant Stephanie Smiley has been with the district for 29 years. As a school system veteran, she鈥檚 in a relatively comfortable position, though she would be making more if she were paid for 40 hours a week. As it stands, her contract calls for only 30.

鈥淚鈥檓 here fighting for the ones who need help,鈥� she says.

She also feels the pressure of short-staffing, saying she sometimes works on the de facto security detail at Dorsey, monitoring the cafeteria and recess areas for 鈥減otential altercations.鈥�

There鈥檚 a collective gasp from the strikers when a commuter in a gray Prius rams the curb, and sigh of relief when the motorist drives off, apparently unharmed. It鈥檚 about 7:20, almost an hour into the scheduled picket. 

The wind and rain are picking up.

Baldwin Hills Recreation Center, 8 a.m.

Volunteers in yellow vests and rain gear stand under tents in the Baldwin Hills Rec Center parking loop. Stacked around them are boxes of food meant to tide families over for the next three days.

Jake Varner, a 23-year-old substitute teacher, says there was a steady stream of cars right when they opened at 7:30. By now, traffic has slowed.

He鈥檚 working with Luis Clarke, a community member, and Lauren Brooks, a senior at King Drew Magnet High School. 

鈥淢y mom signed me up,鈥� Brooks says. 鈥溾�� ‘Cause they鈥檙e on strike, I didn鈥檛 have anything else to do.鈥� 

A man pulls up in a white Jeep. 鈥淭wo kids,鈥� he says. The volunteers hand a sack of fruit through the window and place boxes in his trunk 鈥� 12 meals total for the three-day strike.

Among some staples (cereal, applesauce, pizza), his kids might be pleased to find a strawberry creamsicle and mango sorbet. 

Clarke, who says he鈥檚 a mentor for kids in the community, suspects it was God who brought the three volunteers together, pointing out that both Varner and Brooks love science and want to be doctors.

鈥淲ho did that?鈥� he asks. 鈥淲ho orchestrated this? We didn鈥檛 even know we was going to be on the same team.鈥�

Grand View Blvd. Elementary School, 8:43 a.m.

Car horns are honking. Music is blaring. There鈥檚 talk among the picketers of moving down to Venice High School, a mile away. But Grand View Elementary, where a large crowd has gathered, isn鈥檛 lacking for action.

Local 99 member Carlton Van Vactor, a health care assistant at Grand View, cradles a to-go cup of coffee at his chest.

He says if there鈥檚 one thing he鈥檚 fighting for, it鈥檚 better staffing. 

As a health care assistant, he works with some of Grand View鈥檚 highest-needs students. They have breathing devices, feeding tubes.

While feeding one student through a tube attached to his belly, which can take up to an hour, he has to keep an eye on another student who 鈥渂ites, scratches, throws tantrums, everything鈥� 鈥� someone whom, in other schools, a special ed assistant would attend to.

鈥淚 do a job probably for about three people right now,鈥� he says. With the district since 1989, he makes $26 an hour, working seven hours a day.

Los Angeles Public Library, Mar Vista Branch, 3:09 p.m.

Many on the picket line are district parents or grandparents. Some say they were lucky to have found child care for the three days of no school.

Other parents might depend on local resources. In addition to local recreation centers and parks, L.A.鈥檚 libraries made space for kids in the event of a strike. 

It鈥檚 starting to rain again, and outside the Mar Vista Branch of the L.A. Public Library, Marianne Justus hurries in with her mother and two young sons. Her oldest is a first-grader at Short Ave. Elementary School.

鈥淚 lucked out,鈥� she says. Her mom, who lives in Newport Beach, drove up to help Justus and her husband with the kids Tuesday, and is taking her oldest back down to Newport for Wednesday and Thursday.

While her family can bear three days with no school, she fears a longer work stoppage. Remote schooling 鈥� especially for her oldest son, who needs speech therapy 鈥� was 鈥渉orrendous.鈥� 

鈥淢ost kids are still trying to catch up, and kids with special needs are really trying to catch up,鈥� she says. 

鈥淚 totally understand why they鈥檙e striking,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey need higher pay. I just hope it doesn鈥檛 go longer than three days.鈥�

As Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and the school board met inside the downtown building, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and classroom assistants 鈥� arriving on buses from across the district 鈥� waved placards and chanted, 鈥渘o justice, no peace.鈥�

鈥淚 installed air filters to make sure students and staff would be able to breathe clean air in their classrooms while they were there working and studying,鈥� SEIU 99 President Conrado Guerrero said from the flatbed of a truck. 鈥淲e’ve gone from heroes to zeroes.鈥� 

The two sides have been bargaining since 2020, when the pandemic interrupted negotiations. The 30,000-member SEIU 99 says the district is offering no raise for the 2020-21 school year, a 5% raise for 2021-22 and a 4% increase for 2022-23. Amounting to about $1,000 additional per year for most workers, that鈥檚 insufficient, said Max Arias, the union鈥檚 executive director. 

鈥淭hese were the essential workers鈥� in the district, he said. A strike authorization vote would take place in January.

Arias wants minimum wages for members increased from $18.50 per hour to $24. The union鈥檚 demands also include more eight-hour days and paid training for bus drivers and those in other positions. 鈥淲e鈥檙e at an impasse,鈥� he said. 

In a statement, the district said, 鈥淟os Angeles Unified continues to engage in respectful negotiations with our labor partners. We are committed to compensating our employees fairly in this current economic environment, while also preserving our ability to provide services to our students in a sustainable manner that promotes lasting student achievement.鈥�

Talk of a strike is the latest conflict the district has faced with one of its labor unions. United Teachers Los Angeles opposed Carvalho鈥檚 original plan to spread four learning 鈥渁cceleration days鈥� for students throughout the school year. The district rescheduled them for winter and spring break, even though students are now less likely to participate because they鈥檙e on vacation. of the district鈥檚 more than 420,000 students have signed up for the first two days, Dec. 19-20, according to the district.

SEIU 99 wanted the district to stick to the original schedule because it would have provided members additional work. 

The teachers union isn鈥檛 close to a strike vote yet, but members are increasing pressure on the district. Earlier this month, they at multiple locations.

The union went on a in January 2019, with many of the it is making now, such as smaller class sizes, less standardized testing and more nurses, librarians and counselors. The union wants a 20% raise and argues that the district has over $3 billion in budget reserves to cover it.

But on Tuesday, teachers union members were on hand to support SEIU 99 members. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e been negotiating for seven months. They鈥檝e been negotiating for three years,鈥� said UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about solidarity.鈥�