Los Angeles schools reopen after three-day workers strike

School resumes Friday for 420,000 students in Los Angeles after a three-day strike by education workers disrupted classes and community services in the United States’ second largest school district.

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the Service Employees International Union Local 99 failed to reach an agreement during the walkout, which ended Thursday with another day of picketing and rallies by striking bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers and other low-income workers.

“All @LASschools will reopen this Friday, March 24th. … We look forward to seeing our students and staff back in the classrooms,” the school district said on Twitter Thursday.

About 30,000 workers, supported by 35,000 unionized teachers honoring their picket lines, walked out on Tuesday to seek a raise to what they call poverty wages averaging $25,000 a year.

The walkout was the latest in a series of work-related actions by educators across the United States who have complained of burnout and low wages, which have left teacher shortages in many parts of the country.

“We’re three days in and I’m willing to do a few more (strike) days if I have to,” said Tiffany Barba, a special education assistant and one of thousands who attended a closing rally in Los Angeles on Thursday State Historic Park.

Many workers expected an agreement might be announced at the rally, but no such news was released.

“It’s a long process. We don’t want to sign anything that we might regret later,” said Orasio Morales, a driver and union shop steward.

The union was demanding a 30 percent raise plus an extra $2 an hour for the lowest-paid workers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

LA school principal Alberto Carvalho, who acknowledged the workers were underpaid for years, told reporters Monday the county offered a 23% pay rise plus a 3% bonus.