Los Angeles School Strike - Westminster Avenue Elementary School Protest
On Thursday, March 23, 2023, teachers, staff, parents, and students gathered to protest at Westminster Avenue Elementary School in Venice. The protest was part of a larger strike that had been ongoing for several days, resulting in the closure of hundreds of schools and the cancellation of classes for over 400,000 students.
The strike began at a bus yard in the San Fernando Valley, where workers from the Service Employees International Union's Local 99 demanded a 30 percent increase in pay for the district's support workers. These workers include cafeteria workers, bus drivers, special education assistants, and gardeners, among others. Many of them earn just above minimum wage and struggle to make ends meet in Southern California's high-cost-of-living environment.
In solidarity with the striking workers, the Los Angeles teachers' union urged its 35,000 members not to cross picket lines and to show support for their colleagues. The strike, initially planned to last for three days, was set to end on Friday, March 24, 2023.
The strike has highlighted the ongoing struggle of support workers in Los Angeles and the need for fair compensation for their labor. It has also underscored the impact of strikes on students and families, who are left without access to educational services during such disruptions.
As negotiations continue between the unions and the school district, it remains to be seen how the strike will be resolved and whether the demands of support workers will be met. In the meantime, protesters continue to call attention to the importance of fair compensation for all workers, including those in the education sector.