In the past few weeks, the teachers’ struggle in Los Angeles has intensified against threatened layoffs, and benefit and budget cuts. The Los Angeles Unified School District, City politicians and media outlets, namely the Los Angeles Times, have conducted a massive anti-union campaign by attacking the “deficiencies” of teachers and the union’s role in protecting teachers’ rights.
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Last week, UTLA, the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, which includes the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and other progressive organizations, called a press conference in front of Theodore Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles to demand an end to the teachers layoffs and budget cuts. East L.A. is a pre-dominantly Latino, working-class community.
ANSWER organizer and PSL member Ian Thompson spoke at the event: “We are here today to express our outrage at the layoff notices approved by the LAUSD School Board members and pushed by Superintendent Cortines. We know that the first casualties of education cuts are students in working-class public schools like Roosevelt High and so many others in the greater L.A. area.
“ANSWER gives its full support and solidarity to UTLA. Many of our members are UTLA members. We have worked with UTLA to stop the war; to win immigrant rights; and to win justice for union teachers, education workers and students and parents in public schools.”
The next day, more than 1,500 high school students walked out of school and convened at West Adams Preparatory High School in South Los Angeles for a rally. PSL members marched with the students as they faced off with dozens of LAPD officers. Other students staged sit-ins in schools throughout the city.
UTLA also organized a forum on May 9 focusing on education and social service cuts where participants and panelists planned activities to fight back. More than 300 people participated in this forum; most were teachers, parents, students and community members who expressed outrage against the government’s neglect in meeting people’s needs. The PSL participated and distributed a flyer calling on everyone to support the May 15 strike.
UTLA’s May 15 one-day strike has garnered much support from different sectors of the working class in Los Angeles. In response, the Los Angeles Times has waged a massive anti-union campaign that blames teachers for their plight, a typical ruling-class move. LAUSD officials also requested a court injunction to make sure that the strike cannot happen legally.
On May 12, just days before the strike, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted LAUSD’s injunction request. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfont said he based his decision on the “health and safety” of students. Chalfont gave legal cover to LAUSD, the School Board, and city politicians, like Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who all want to bust the union and force it to accept whatever scraps they offer.
In light of this pro-employer court ruling, UTLA is now weighing its next steps. UTLA President A.J. Duffy said, “It is unfortunate that the courts ruled against our members’ democratic right to protest class‐size increases and layoffs and to stand up for students.”
That likely will not be the last word. Some teachers told PSLweb.org that they would walk out no matter how the court rules. One high school teacher, Jacqui, said “Some legal rulings need to be disobeyed and some laws need to be broken—going on strike is one of the only weapons teachers and all workers have.”
Whatever happens, the PSL will continue to stand with teachers, public employees and all workers to oppose layoffs and cutbacks. We know that the economic crisis was created by the capitalists and their system—and they should shoulder the burden.
