L.A. Unified School District reaches historic deal, meets demands of union workers following 3-day s
Following a massive three day strike, a historic pact is reached. The LA USD and workers at Los Angeles public schools have ended a months long impasse over pay and working conditions. The tentative deal includes significant raises and other benefits for about 30,000 of the lowest paid workers in the district. It does still need to be approved by union workers which is expected. KTLA 5 John Finolio joins us live from City Hall in downtown LA with all the details about the new deal. KTLA 5 John. Court Micah, good evening to you.
That's absolutely right. Union workers got what they wanted and more including a 30% wage increase and family health benefits for part-time workers here in the nation's second largest school district. We've done it after nine months of negotiations. And a three day strike that shut down classrooms across Los Angeles this week. Today is indeed a historic day. Tonight, a tentative deal was reached between the LA Unified School District and the union representing some 30,000 service workers. We as a society need to do better.
The new contract impacts district employees such as bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers. It will span from July 1st, 2020 to June 30th, 2024. The agreement includes a 30% pay increase along with a vast expansion of benefits including a 6% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1st, 2021. A 7% ongoing wage increase retroactive to July 1st, 2022. A 7% ongoing wage increase that takes effect July 1st, 2023. A $2 per hour increase for all employees effective January 1st, 2024. It provides a $1,000 appreciation bonus for current employees who worked on campus in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also raises the LAUSD minimum wage to $22.50 per hour, which is more than the city of Los Angeles or the state requires. It provides health benefits for part-time workers and their qualified dependents and it increases hours and pay for employees who work with students with special needs. Good afternoon, everyone. Mayor Karen Bass facilitated discussions between the two sides following Tuesday's strike, which was supported by the United Teachers Los Angeles Union. This is about the high cost of living in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, as everybody knows, has become virtually unaffordable.
The urgent need to grow opportunity and make housing more affordable and create a sustainable future for every LA family is the number one issue. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho describing the deal as transformative for the roughly 30,000 people who work as support staff for the district, many of whom live in poverty. This is a multi-year agreement, the likes of which has never been negotiated in this district, the likes of which has never been negotiated across the state or across the country. And I can confidently say that. This is an agreement that's going to make a lot of superintendents very nervous. And here in California, this agreement will set new standards, not just for Los Angeles, but for the whole state. And you can bet that this deal will will absolutely influence other union negotiations in the future, including the LA Teachers Union, which will be negotiating their own contract next year with LAUSD.
Members there are asking for a 20% pay increase over the course of two years. At City Hall, I'm John Finolio, KTLA 5 News. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. John, thank you.
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