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| I think our raises are a great start. I know our Bargaining Team fought hard for it. We are in a good position with our new contract. We need to keep fighting and be united.Libby Santos Amos Special Education Assistant, Sun Valley High School |
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| A $15/hour increase will mean I don’t have to work all the time to make ends meet. In addition to my job at LAUSD, I work as a ballroom supervisor on the weekends. I take on other jobs like catering, washing carpets, and selling trinkets just to put food on the table. $15 will mean more time with my family. It means I can take my son to the park on weekends.Raul Meza School Facilities Attendant, Van Nuys High School |
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| My parents were immigrants who relied on my teachers for advice on all kinds of things. Ever since I was a small child I’ve dreamt of becoming a teacher—someone who was a resource for entire families. The wage increase in our new contract is definitely a step in the right direction to help me get my credential and start my dream career. I already have my B.A. from U.C. Santa Cruz, but I can’t finish my credential until I pay off my student debt. Earning $15 an hour will help me do that.Tomás Lagos Teacher’s Assistant, Sylvan Park Elementary School |
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| I do this work because I love it so much that it almost doesn’t feel like a job. But it’s impossible to finish my college education on my current salary. That’s why I have to work a second job. Even working almost 60 hours per week—plus going to school—I’m living paycheck-to-paycheck. And I barely have time to sleep or eat. I think $15 an hour is a good minimum wage.Oscar Cano Teacher’s Assistant, Noble Elementary School |
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| I already earn more than $15 an hour. I see this establishing an improved salary schedule for years to come that will really help all the employees, families and students of LAUSD.Edna Logan Custodian, Esteban Torres High School |
(And it makes national news!)
Our $15 per hour minimum wage will lift 20,000 families out of poverty!
82% of us vote an overwhelming “Yes!”
We had huge 665% increase in voter participation!
Read:
Washington Post • Los Angeles Times • La Opinión • Sacramento Bee
Listen:
Watch:
NBC 4 • Fox 11 • Mundo Fox • Noticias 62
Check out what people are saying on Twitter:
Thrilled to hear @SEIULocal99 and @LASchools have agreed on a $15 wage for 20,000 school workers by 2016
U.S. Congresswoman Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40)
Congratulations! RT @SEIULocal99: Victory! @LASchools service workers ratified landmark contract with $15/hr min wage!
California Superintendedt of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
@SEIULocal99 stellar victory on raising the #MinimumWage in #USA & #LA @LALabor
Compton School Board President Micah Ali
Woohoo! RT @SEIULocal99: Victory! @LASchools service workers ratified landmark contract with $15/hr min wage!
Robert Cruickshank, Senior Campaign Manager at Democracy For America
We really are lovin this #15andaunion win with @SEIULocal99
Fast food workers in New England united in the fight for $15 and a union
Incredible victory for 20K @LASchools workers who ratified landmark contract w/ $15/hr min wage!
Mary Kay Henry, president of our International Union, SEIU
So inspired by the @SEIULocal99 $15 win in LA. Chicago @McDonalds workers are next!! #fightfor15 #fastfoodglobal
Adriana Alvarez?, a leader of @fightfor15
BREAKING: @SEIULocal99 WINS $15 for 20,000 school workers in LA! @McDonalds @BurgerKing & @Wendys is next!
Organizing Committee of Chicago “Fight for 15” fast food & retail workers uniting
RT @RISEIUCouncil: Congratulations @SEIUlocal99! L.A. Unified agrees to pay low-wage workers $15 an hour
Rhode Island Future
#fightfor15 for everybody! @SEIULocal99 congrats
Ben Zucker, a fast food organizer in Brooklyn, CT & RI
exciting news from LA, more than 20,000 workers won $15! Now time to spread that $15 at @MeEncanta @McDonalds @SEIULocal99
Cecilia Velazquez, a fighter for justice in Chicago
#Union win! @SEIULocal99 members ratify a landmark contract for $15!
Show Me $15, an organization of fast food workers united in the fight for $15 and a union in MO, TN, AR, MS, LA
@SEIULocal99 – great news!
Western Center on Law and Poverty
In case you missed it: @fightfor15: BREAKING: @SEIULocal99 WINS $15 for 20,000 school workers in LA! @McDonalds @BurgerKing & @Wendys is next!
The Nation Magazine
We really increased our involvement in this contract fight!
Thousands of us came together to hold “Listening Sessions” at more than 550 schools and work sites throughout LAUSD last fall when, from October 2013 to April 2014, we discussed and prioritized our goals for this next contract with the District. Our voter participation increased by 665% over our last contract ratification. And an overwhelming 82% of us voted “Yes!” for this new strong contract.
We won a life-changing, incredible victory!
By lifting the salary floor, this is a giant first step in making sure that school jobs are good jobs. Nearly half of us are parents of children attending LAUSD schools. This establishes a living wage that will mean we can help our children with their homework instead of clocking in for a second job.
In addition to the minimum wage increase for those of us earning below $15 an hour, the agreement includes increases totaling 6.64% for all other workers.
Read more about our new contract!
WAGE INCREASES THAT WILL LIFT THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY
Members currently earning below $15/hour will receive the following increases:
- Effective July 1, 2014 – $11/hour minimum
- July 1, 2015 – $13/hour minimum
- July 1, 2016 – $15/hour minimum
WAGE INCREASES FOR ALL – AFTER YEARS OF CUTS
Members currently earning $15/hour or above will receive the following across-the-board wage increases:
- Effective July 1, 2014 – 2%
- July 1, 2015 – 2%
- July 1, 2016 – 2.5%
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
We agreed to continue negotiations with the District to ensure all members have access to health care benefits.
INCREASED WORK HOURS, WORK YEAR, AND ACCESS TO VACATION DAYS
More than 30,000 SEIU Local 99 members currently work less than 8-hours a day. This agreement establishes a committee to specifically work on increasing hours and preventing further reductions to our hours and work year. Additionally, the agreement specifically calls for an increase in the number of full time positions in Units B & C by District seniority. This committee will also address gaining more access to our vacation days. The District agreed to reduce the amount of black-out days for vacation usage and, for Units B & C, we agreed to have further conversations about protecting loss of vacation days.
A STRONGER VOICE FOR:
A Fair Job Evaluation System
The District will work with Local 99 members to pilot a new evaluation system before it is implemented. Members will be able to participate in the pilot on a voluntary basis during work hours. All member volunteers completing the pilot program will receive a one-time payment of $200.00. Local 99 and the District will meet to agree on any changes to the evaluation program before it is implemented District-wide.
Improved Job Safety and Work Materials
This joint Local 99/LAUSD Committee will give us a voice to address and resolve issues that impact our work lives, including adequate break and restrooms in transportation yards, bullying at work, and ensuring we have sufficient materials and supplies to do our work.
Increased Training and Opportunities for Advancement
Local 99 and the District will establish a committee to increase training and job promotion opportunities for Local 99 members.
IMPROVED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE TO MAKE IT EASIER TO ADDRESS WORKSITE ISSUES THAT AFFECT A GROUP OF WORKERS
Under this agreement, a grievance will not need the individual signatures of all SEIU Local 99 members who are affected by the grievance. Instead, we’ll be able to file a class action, or group grievance, by just including the name.
A STRONGER UNION
The District will allow SEIU Local 99 30-minutes at each new employee orientation meeting to let them know about our contract and their rights on the job.
ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL 99 MEMBERS IMPACTED BY SEMI-MONTHLY PAY SYSTEM
Effective July 1, 2015, the District will implement a semi-monthly pay system. The District agreed that any SEIU Local 99 members experiencing hardship as a result of this new pay system will be able to apply for financial assistance. This new semi-monthly pay system will help reduce the number of overpayment errors that have annually burdened thousands of Local 99 members.
MORE JOBS AND INCREASED STUDENT SERVICES THROUGH OASIS PROGRAM
OASIS stands for Optimizing Access to Services, Increasing Success. It is a new program spearheaded by SEIU Local 99 which is being piloted at four schools this summer through the 2014-15 school year. The District and Local 99 will work to expand this program in our communities which will connect students and families with services that promote health and financial literacy as well as academic achievement. The goal of the OASIS program is also to increase work hours for many Local 99 members and create more good jobs.
RESTORATION OF LOST WORK HOURS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKERS
In a side letter, we also reached an agreement to restore the special education work hours lost in 2012.
CLICK HERE for the full contract language.
