LOS ANGELES — Members of the union that represents most nonteaching employees in Los Angeles schools — cafeteria workers, custodians and teacher assistants — have overwhelmingly voted to allow their leaders to call a strike if negotiations don't lead to an agreement.
The 30,000 workers represented by Local 99 of Service Employees International Union include bus drivers, campus security aides and gardeners — all essential to operations in the nation's second-largest school system.
The union is seeking a 30% wage increase plus a $2-per-hour "equity wage adjustment" for all — which would especially benefit hourly workers making the least. The union is negotiating for salary terms going back to the start of the 2020-21 school year.
