
LAUSD Members: See Everything We Won in Our Historic Contract + Calculate Your Raise
SEIU Local 99 members have voted overwhelmingly to approve our new contract with LAUSD. During in-person and online voting held April 3-7, thousands of members cast their ballots with over 99% voting to ratify the agreement. Read our press release. On April 18, the LAUSD school board also voted unanimously to approve the agreement.
When can you expect payment on the new wage increases, retroactive pay, and bonuses?
- Retention and appreciation bonus of $1000 will be paid to all current employees who worked during the 2020-21 school year on:
May 23, 2023 for those who are paid twice a month and on
May 31, 2023 for those who are paid monthly - Wage increase & Retroactive pay – 2021-2022 6% increase + 2022-2023 7% increase for a total 13% wage increase plus retroactive pay will be paid on:
June 8, 2023 for those who are paid twice a month and on
June 12, 2023 for those who are paid monthly - Additional increases are coming:
• 7% increase effective July 1, 2023
• $2/hour increase effective January 1, 2024
These historic wage increases amounting to an average 30% increase were won through the courage, sacrifice, and commitment of SEIU Local 99 members.
Plus more! Immediately after winning our contract, members secured an additional agreement with LAUSD that includes more optional paid days, vacation cash-out, no retaliation for striking, and greater respect. Read more here.
Let’s continue to stand union strong! Become a Steward or contact your organizer to join a Labor Management Committee to continue to address hours, staffing, and other issues that impact our work and the student services we provide.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tentative Agreement with LAUSD
The agreement first needs to be ratified (approved) by SEIU Local 99 members and the LAUSD school board. Members will be voting April 3-7 and the school board is expected to vote in mid-April. As soon as the agreement is ratified, it will go into effect. We must continue to push the district to ensure the raises, bonus, and retroactive checks are paid as soon as possible after ratification.
Do the wage increases expire? In 2024, would we only see $2 per hour or the whole 30% raise in our paychecks?
The percentage raises do not expire. They are ongoing. That means they accumulate each year. So, in 2024 you would see the cumulative 20% wage increases from 2021-23, plus the $2/hour.
How will the retroactive pay be calculated?
It will be calculated going back to July 1 for wage increases for years 2021-2022 & 2022-2023
Is the retroactive pay going to be included in our regular paycheck? Or a separate check? Will it be paid in one lump sum or in installments?
Retroactive pay will be included in the regular paycheck and will be paid in one lump sum.
Will three-hour workers also receive the pay raise, retroactive pay and benefits?
All workers covered by SEIU Local 99’s contracts (Units B, C, F, G) will receive the wage increases and retroactive pay. Workers working 4 or more hours will be eligible for the fully paid health care benefits, including dependent coverage.
What about workers who are on probation or are substitutes, will they also get the raise, bonus, and retroactive pay.
Yes. The agreement covers all eligible workers represented by SEIU Local 99.
Who is eligible for the $1000 bonus?
All members who worked during the 2020-21 school year will receive the $1000 bonus. This includes those who worked remotely and those who worked on the front lines while schools were closed during the pandemic/.
If workers just left the district or retired, will they be able to get the back pay?
The raises, bonus, and retroactive pay are only available to those currently employed by LAUSD in job classifications represented by SEIU Local 99. If you are planning to leave the school district or retire this school year, you are still eligible to receive the additional pay.
Are the 7-hour shifts for special education assistants mandatory?
No. Special Education Assistants assigned fewer than 7 hours/day will be offered the opportunity to be assigned 7 hours/day. They will have the option to accept the additional hour(s) or maintain their current assignment.
When do the 7-hour shifts for special education assistants take effect?
The option for 7-hour assignments for special education assistants is effective January 1, 2024.
Does the option for 7-hour shifts also include Health Care Assistants and Special Education Trainees?
The option for 7-hour shifts is only extended to Special Education Assistants and Trainees.
Are employees that were 8 hours going to lose their 1 hour?
The 7-hour shifts offered to special education assistants only impact those who are currently working less than 7-hours. It will not impact workers who are working 8-hours.
Is the 5.5% Special Education Assistant differential for providing additional behavioral intervention support duties on top of the raise? When will the Special Education Assistant differential pay start?
The BII differential pay is in addition to the pay raises. It is effective as soon as ratification is complete.
Will hours be increased for workers who are not Special Education Assistants?
The agreement allows for SEIU Local 99 members to continue in discussions with LAUSD about increasing work hours through the Labor Management Committee process. Through Labor Management Committees, members can continue to address and resolve issues, including hours, staffing levels, schedule changes and more when we are not in contract negotiations. Members are encouraged to join a Labor Management Committee to ensure that issues impacting your specific job classification are heard. To learn more about joining a Labor Management Committee, contact the Member Resource Center at MemberResourceCenter@seiu99.org. It is also important for members to join your school site council to ensure that staffing, workload and other concerns are heard and addressed at the worksite level.
What about unassigned days?
Members will continue to address the issue of unassigned days through the Labor Management Committees. Members are encouraged to join a Labor Management Committee to ensure our voices are heard even when we are not in full contract negotiations. Contact the Member Resource Center at MemberResourceCenter@seiu99.org.
How many hours do you have to work to be eligible for health care benefits?
Workers with a regular assignment of at least four hours are eligible for health care benefits, including dependent coverage, this includes workers in Unit F (Teacher Assistants) and Unit G (Community Representatives, After School Program Workers, and others) who were previously excluded from family health care benefits.
If you work under two different job codes, can the hours from the two different job classifications be added together to qualify for benefits?
No. Hours from two different job classifications cannot be combined to be eligible for benefits. This is an issue we must continue to raise in future negotiations.
If I am at the top of my salary cap for my position, will the cap be lifted so that I am eligible for the raise? Is everyone getting the 30% or is the increase only on the base salary?
The wage increases apply to all workers represented by SEIU Local 99, no matter where you are on the pay scale. This historic agreement lifts the ceiling on wage caps.
How does this contract affect workplace mistreatment?
The fight for respect was a major issue. This agreement includes breakthrough language that allows workers to file grievances over issues of bullying, disrespect, and harassment on the job. This will require that the district take these issues seriously and ensure that workers are compensated for mistreatment on the job.
Will we support teachers if they go on strike?
The solidarity and support of United Teachers Los Angeles was powerful. Ultimately, SEIU Local 99 members would need to vote on striking with teachers. Our new agreement allows for solidarity strikes so SEIU Local 99 would be able to join a lawful strike with teachers.
How will the education fund work? How can I take advantage of classes to advance my career at LAUSD?
LAUSD will set-aside $3 million expressly for the training and professional development of SEIU Local 99 members. A fund will be created and SEIU Local 99 members will be able make decisions on the programs and training that will be paid by this fund. The fund will be set-up upon ratification of the agreement and more information will be available as it is implemented.
What is the status of LAUSD’s legal complaint claiming the strike was illegal?
LAUSD filed a legal complaint in an attempt to silence workers and stop the strike. Workers demonstrated that they will not be intimidated. The complaint continues in the legal process. It does not affect the raises or other gains we made in the agreement.
What is the duration of the contract?
The agreement that was just negotiated covers 2020-24. Remember, we had to suspend contract negotiations in 2020 to address pandemic issues. That is why the agreement covers past years. That means next year we will be going back into bargaining to continue to win improvements to our wages, hours, and working conditions.
Highlights of what we’ve won
30% average wage increase. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 6% increase effective July 1, 2021
- 7% increase effective July 1, 2022
(That’s 13% paid immediately after the contract is ratified, plus retroactive pay.)
- 7% increase effective July 1, 2023
- $2/hour increase effective Jan. 1, 2024 which is on average a 10% increase
$1000 bonus for all current employees who worked during the 2020-21 year.
Minimum wage goes up from $16.91 to $22.53/hour.
5.5% differential paid to Special Ed Assistants assigned to behavioral intervention support duties.
ITD and Procurement workers will be placed in A Basis
Right to file a grievance over disrespectful treatment or harassment on the job
Fully paid health care benefits, including dependent coverage, for members in Units F & G (Teacher Assistants, Community Representatives, After School Program Workers and others)
$3 million education fund for SEIU Local 99 members to advance and promote within the district.
Limit on Mandatory Overtime for Unit C – Employees cannot be required to work more than 44 hours of overtime a month except in case of emergency.
Light and heavy bus drivers will be able to vote on a bus in addition to bidding on a route
Better wages and improved hours mean LAUSD will be able to hire more workers to address staffing shortages.
- Staffing levels and additional hours
- Concept of notice, impact, and effect of hours and schedule changes.
- Concept of notice, impact, and effect of subcontracting (including BII)
- Split shifts
- Tool allowances/usage, mileage, use of persona vehicles.
- Implementation of BII
- Status of Teachers Assistants
- Joint advocacy for additional resources
Calculate Your Raise
Enter your current hourly wage to see how much of an increase you can expect. Please note: This calculator is for informational purposes only.
13 Comments
Leave A Comment Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Is the 5.5% differential for BII retroactive?
Good luck trying to hire new Building &Grounds Workers with new raises or keep the older employees. at job fairs, in the community college the student is not going to take those jobs there not time to do you homework if get off work at 11:30 PM and be at class in 7:00AM
Employees who are no longer with LAUSD are also eligible to receive the retroactive money?
Does the BII differential also apply to RSP baselines since we’re the first ones pulled to cover BIIs when they’re out?
20% plus $2 is not 30%. Why don’t you add a total percentage on you online calculator. 🤔
$2/hour increase effective Jan. 1, 2024 which is on average a 10% increase
It depends on your current pay. For some it’s more than 10%
Your right, I’m trying to figure this out as well. At 10% I’m short $1.29
If you read the posting it says $2 is on average 10%
If you make minimum wage $2 is more than 10%
If you are much higher on the pay scale it’s less than 10%
If you average all members members of seiu 99 the average will be 10%
In general it would be best to stop telling everyone its an average of 10% when in reality its just a $2 raise. You will avoid a lot of conflict and confusion, or is it that you don’t want people to remember that they went on strike for 30% plus the $2 and on got 20% plus $2? it was on the LA Times.
“The union’s 30,000 members — Los Angeles Unified School District bus drivers, mechanics, custodians, food workers and others — are asking for a 30% wage increase over four years, plus $2 more per hour for the lowest-paid employees. They make an average of $25,000 a year in a city of astronomically high rents.” Max Arias
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-22/max-arias-seiu-local-99-lausd-strike
Hi what happen to the unassigned days we also fought for ,was not mention in the agreement
I have questions in regards to the 30% I’ve been with the district since 2018 and took a break for a year came back Aug 2022. It seems like the raise isn’t going to make a big of a difference im a SPED TA .I need more information what is the percentage I will be getting.
I have a similar case. Did you get a response?
Regardless of when you started or if you left and came back Everyone gets 20% + $2