LAUSD strike averted, but deeper challenges remain

Los Angeles Unified avoided a strike just hours before schools opened after reaching a last-minute deal with SEIU Local 99, marking the third major labor scare in less than a decade.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:26am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic school cafeteria tray item such as an apple, carton of milk, or slice of pizza, repeated in a tight grid pattern to represent the essential role schools play in providing meals and nourishment for students.As LAUSD grapples with budget pressures and labor tensions, the district's ability to provide essential services like school meals remains a critical concern for students and families.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) came within hours of a strike, which would have affected more than 400,000 students, many of whom rely on schools for meals, supervision, and a consistent daily schedule. The near-miss followed a three-day strike by SEIU Local 99 and underscores the deeper challenges facing the district, including declining enrollment, budget shortfalls, and leadership instability.

Why it matters

The near-strike reflects the ongoing structural challenges facing LAUSD, including a structural deficit driven by declining enrollment and rising costs. Experts say the solution requires state-level funding increases, as districts are being asked to do more for students while also facing higher costs of living for employees, making it harder to sustain operations.

The details

LAUSD Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho and acting Superintendent Andres Chait acknowledged the strain on families and the financial and operational pressures behind the agreement. Board President Scott Schmerelson said the district had to look 'for every nickel and dime we can find to put toward salaries' to help avert a strike, while Board member Kelly Gonez said preventing future disruptions will require more consistent collaboration with labor partners and earlier negotiations.

  • The near-strike followed a three-day strike by SEIU Local 99 in April 2026.
  • The agreement was reached in the early Tuesday morning hours of April 15, 2026, just hours before schools were set to open.

The players

Alberto M. Carvalho

The superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Andres Chait

The acting superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Scott Schmerelson

The president of the Los Angeles Unified School District board.

Kelly Gonez

A member of the Los Angeles Unified School District board.

SEIU Local 99

The labor union that represents many LAUSD employees, including custodians, cafeteria workers, and special education assistants.

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What they’re saying

“I'm a district parent — I know because I was getting all the emails last night, saying 'what the heck is going on? Let us know,'' he said. 'And you hung in there with us. We ask you for your patience. We ask you for your belief in us that we would get this done for you. Thank you. That will never be forgotten.'”

— Andres Chait, Acting Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District

“As enrollment decreases, they are facing a more difficult budget situation each year, given the fact that they have grown and the amount of employees that they have has grown, and the cost continues to increase because it's not just about the decreasing enrollment, it's also about the cost of doing business.”

— Adrian Sandoval, Vice President of Policy and Strategy, GPSN

“The solution is not going to be negotiated here locally. The solution around LAUSD and other districts being able to have the resources that they need is more of a state-level solution.”

— Adrian Sandoval, Vice President of Policy and Strategy, GPSN

What’s next

District leaders acknowledged the need for more consistent collaboration with labor partners and earlier negotiations to prevent future disruptions. They also said they hope the agreement can help reset relationships and lead to greater advocacy for long-term funding increases from the state.

The takeaway

The averted LAUSD strike highlights the deeper structural challenges facing the district, including declining enrollment, budget shortfalls, and the need for increased state-level funding to address the rising costs of doing business and sustain operations. Resolving these underlying issues will require greater collaboration between the district, its labor partners, and state policymakers.