Teachers in Los Angeles have announced a potential strike on Wednesday, April 14, 2026. This action could close schools for about 400,000 students, unless the school district agrees to a new contract.
Three unions joined the announcement, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA). All representing more than 60,000 school employees, according to the Los Angeles Times.
UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz and SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Aria announced the strike at a rally Wednesday afternoon at Gloria Molina Grand Park. There within the crowds, teachers wore red shirts, SEIU members wore purple and AALA members wore green. The massive crowd stretched across from the park to Los Angeles City Hall holding signs with phrases like “Strike Ready” and “United for LA Schools” being displayed.
“The message to the public is, stand with educators, stand with teachers,” Myart-Cruz told the crowd. “One job should be enough.”
ULTA is asking for a 17% pay raise over two years, which would bring the starting teacher pay to $80,000 a year and $134,000 a year for experienced teachers. The union is also asking for a smaller class size, more mental health staff and no layoffs. Both UTLA and SEIU have been working without a modern contract since June 2024, according to FOX 11.
LAUSD offered 8% over two years plus a one-time 3% bonus, which they called “among the highest in California,” according to LAist. Officials had warned that LAUSD’s finances are under serious strain and that a larger deal could cause long-term issues with the budget.
“We have people who are 30 years old, still living with their parents because they cannot afford housing in the city where they teach,” Myart-Cruz told the crowd at the rally. “Others commute from other cities like Riverside or San Bernardino in order to reach schools in Los Angeles, for the reason that rent is cheaper.”
The last time UTLA went on a full strike was Jan. 2019. It was a six-day walkout in which schools remained open but barely functional. Unlike the 2019 strike, the 2026 strike would be open-ended, meaning schools would stay closed until a deal is reached, with no set end date.
The Los Angeles strike dispute is part of a wave of teacher strikes across California.
”All these districts going on strike – it’s not a coincidence, everywhere in the state are teachers with unmet needs,” David Goldberg, the president of the California Teachers Association noted.
For example, San Francisco teachers held a strike for four days in Feb. 2026 and won a $183 million deal, while teachers in Dublin, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area, settled after a four-day strike in March, according to CalMatters.
“The strike would definitely affect me,” senior Leena Gonzalez said. “I have an animal behavior class and if my teacher is not there, it would take a lot of time away from actually learning about the animals.”
LAUSD is heading into this dispute without an official superintendent.
Alberto Carvalho has been on paid administrative leave since late Feb. 2026 following the FBI search of his home. However, Andres Chait, is currently running the district.
Both sides now have less than four weeks to reach a deal. If this agreement isn’t reached in time, LAUSD schools close April 14th, without any knowledge of reopening.
