We work in the richest school district in the richest state in the nation. The district has stacked up $6.4 billion in reserves yet continues to keep educators underpaid and our schools understaffed and under-resourced. Our students are struggling in and outside of school. Enrollment is declining as families are falling behind on rent and forced to leave L.A.
This fall, UTLA members participated in over 665 chapter meetings while Reclaim Our Schools LA surveyed parents and community organizations to identify the urgent issuesthat would shape the UTLA demands in upcoming contract negotiations. With feedback from chapter leaders, the 140-member UTLA Bargaining Team developed a unified platform of demands from that input.
The Win Our Future platform builds on our historic wins from our 2019 Strike and 2023 Solidarity Strike. It is a statement of what UTLA members are committed to fight for, collectively, for the future of our public schools and communities.
This round, we have the opportunity to bring member power and momentum to the state level. Uniting with ten other major educator unions across California in the statewide We Can’t Wait campaign, we can build the power to maximize pressure and win big for our schools.
The platform has been endorsed by the UTLA Bargaining Team, the Board of Directors and Chapter Chairs across all 8 UTLA Areas. In November 21, the Win Our Future Platform received a 97% YES vote and the We Can’t Wait Campaign a 92% YES vote sending a clear message to the district that we are united and prepared to stand up for the schools our students deserve.
Increased salaries to recruit and retain educators; compensation for, and limits on, additional work; better access to PTO, Parental Leave, and mental wellness supports; equity across positions; protection of educator rights; prep time; support for new educators with additional investment in BIPOC, multilingual, and immigrant educators; and more.
Limits on district-mandated testing; increased investment in Community Schools; protection and expansion of BSAP and Ethnic Studies; more support for students’ mental health; more support for immigrant students, newcomers, English language learners, LGBTQIA+ students and staff, students and families facing homelessness, vulnerable students, and for parents; campus safety through support not criminalization; home internet access and updated technology; free Early Education for all; support for college and career preparation; and more.
Class size, caseload, and staffing ratio reduction and increased accountability for LAUSD for violations; increased support for Special Education; fully staffed schools, including aides, custodians, and more.
Protections against displacement and program cuts; increased LSLC purview; increased school-site funding for supplies, programs, and positions; interview panels for administrators; bans on subcontracting and replacement by AI; increased charter school accountability and limits on co- location; and more.
Clean, safe drinking water; facilities upgrades including HVAC; green spaces, shade, and playgrounds on every school campus; programs and policies for environmental justice, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness; and more.
UTLA is united with ten of the largest educator unions in the state of California to coordinate our demands and actions through the California Alliance for Community Schools. The We Can’t Wait campaign demands are consistent with the demands identified by UTLA members and are reflected in the UTLA Win Our Future platform:
