On June 24, Governor Jerry Brown signed a new state budget that continues to fund education, protect jobs, and support working families.
Because of our hard work to pass Proposition 30, this is the third year in a row where we don’t have to face massive cuts to our K-14 schools and jobs. At LAUSD, the budget for the 2015-16 school year includes good news for Local 99 members, including funds to:
- Maintain our current health care benefits and raises
- Expand the supper program which will bring hundreds of new jobs
- Increase custodians on campus
- Secure the OASIS Program which supports jobs for Local 99 members and brings services to families on campus
- Support A-G Graduation Requirements, including increased summer school
- Create a Special Education Career Ladder Program
Since so many Local 99 members also reached out to our legislators, the 2015-16 state budget also means good news for early education. It includes more funding for preschool, increased payment rates for child care providers, and increased slots to ensure more working families have access to quality child care.
While there’s good news overall, this budget is just the first step. We know there is still more work ahead. At LAUSD, we will be stepping-up our efforts to ensure more SEIU Local 99 members have access to health care benefits. There are currently thousands of members who do not have access to coverage or to an affordable plan with the District. We are currently in negotiations to include these members and their families in the health benefits plan enjoyed by the majority of LAUSD employees.
We’re also urging legislators to pass and Governor Brown to sign SB548 which will address the crisis in our child care system through training and collective bargaining for child care workers.
We’ve come a long way from the furloughs and cuts we faced just a few years ago. Let’s continue to move forward!
