Above: CWC Educators United picketing before school at CWC Hollywood in April alongside families and community members to demand management settle a fair contract

After almost two years of negotiations for their first contract, CWC Educators United have reached a tentative agreement this week. Educators at Citizens of the World Charter (CWC) schools across LA unionized with UTLA in June 2024 and have since been fighting for a contract to address issues around class size, staffing, educator support, and more.  

CWC Educators United have faced an uphill battle with management’s delay tactics and top-down decision-making, but didn’t stop fighting for the contract they know they deserve. After CWC management imposed an insulting final offer on May 20, educators ramped up school-site pickets, leafleted parents at drop-off, circulated a petition, and organized parents to speak at board meetings. Educators also organized a meeting with their LAUSD school board member to push CWC to come back to the table to negotiate in good faith.  

Above: CWC Educators United packed the room for their first open bargaining session in September 2025.

“I’m so proud to be part of a team where folks all pitched in to get the deal that we want, and our students deserve,” said third-grade teacher and CWC Educators United bargaining team member TJ Gist. “This contract will be a strong foundation for us to build on in future years. We’regrateful to the hard work of other UTLA members who have established high standards for our profession and continue to raise them through collective action.”  

The Tentative Agreement CWC Educators United won includes a 9.75% salary increase, smaller class sizes, increases to healthcare coverage, just cause language, and more. 

“So many people have touched this work over the years,” said Math interventionist and bargaining team member Julia Hiser. “There are students we have yet to meet that will benefit from this contract. Teaching is often called a labor of love, but fighting to improve the teaching profession is even more so. I am thrilled with what we have achieved in this contract and know it is only a foundation from which we can build.” 

CWC educators voted 99% YES this week to ratify the agreement.