A new poll conducted by an outside firm of voters in LAUSD shows that:  

The public supports teachers: With a 76% favorability rating, educators remain immensely popular. Seven in 10 voters describe LA teachers as caring, hardworking, and trustworthy.

The public supports our contract demands: 68% of people say teachers are paid too little (in fact, 21% of full-time educators in LAUSD qualify for low-income housing and other assistance programs). When choosing between proposals to invest in schools, better pay for teachers is voters’ top priority by a long shot. Higher pay is followed by smaller class sizes, special education resources, career and vocational training, and enrichment programs, like arts and music. 

The public supports a strike: Nearly 70% say teachers would be justified in striking for more investment in schools. A strike is backed by a majority of voters across every LAUSD neighborhood and key constituency. 

The strong results are a reflection of the goodwill we have built in the community since the 2019 strike. The public sees that year after year we fight for things to support students and the community. 

With contract talks at an impasse and headed to mediation, the overwhelming support of the public is solid ground on which we build to the next step: a strike authorization vote in January. 

While we organize for a huge YES vote, we will continue to try to reach a contract agreement with the district. Impasse and mediation are legally required processes, but LAUSD could settle the contract at any time by making movement on our core issues: salary, staffing increases for PSAs, PSWs, and school psychologists, more arts and PE educators, $100 penalty for class size cap and ratio violations, parental leave, and meaningful special education support.