A teachers’ strike entered its second day on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at El Camino Real Charter High School, one of the nation’s top schools, after months of negotiations failed to yield an agreement.
Teachers at the Woodland Hills school say they are fighting for a fair contract that reflects the rising cost of living, while school leaders maintain they have offered an unprecedented 15% salary increase for the 2024-25 academic year.
“Our demands are simple: a fair salary increase, respect,” said Carlos Monroy, UTLA chapter chair and a special education English teacher at El Camino, who has worked at the school for 18 years.
According to Monroy, teachers have been working without a contract since July and two mediation sessions failed to produce a deal. While the school is offering a 15% salary increase in the first year, any additional increases in years two and three are being proposed as a one-time bonus rather than permanent salary raises.
“It’s a rising cost of living in Southern California, and how very expensive this neighborhood is,” Monroy said. “Many of our educators simply can’t afford to live in this community, even though we serve the students of this community. So, it’s not really about 15 percent or 21 percent or anything like that. It’s about being able to take care of the educators in a fair and appropriate manner.”
The proposed salary would bring credentialed teachers’ earnings to a range of $73,067 to $126,965 annually. The salaries surpass those offered by Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and neighboring charter schools such as Birmingham Community Charter High School, Palisades Charter High School, and Ivy Academia, according to the school.
The walkout has raised concerns among parents at the high-performing school, which has nearly 3,000 students and holds a record of 10 National Championships in the Academic Decathlon – the most of any high school in the U.S.
“There are only 80 students in school today,” said Melissa B, a parent who hurried to pick up her child and declined to give her last name. “They have no help, no nothing to teach, the students are walking around the school. … It’s very frustrating.”
Monroy argued that the school’s financial priorities are misplaced. According to him, the executive director earns $280,000 annually, while entry-level teachers make $61,000 and oversee 150 to 200 students daily.
School administrators defended their offer, calling it among the highest in California and potentially the nation.
“Our educators are the heart of El Camino Real, and this historic raise underscores our deep appreciation for their hard work and dedication,” David Hussey, the school’s executive director, said in a statement. “We are committed to providing the best possible compensation while ensuring the stability and longevity of our school community.”
School leaders also cited findings from a state-appointed fact-finding panel, which concluded that the school’s offer is reasonable—particularly given a projected $1 million budget deficit and ongoing uncertainty in general funding.
School officials argue that its proposed salary increases are more financially sustainable under these conditions.
Outside the campus on Tuesday, about 300 teachers, students, and parents—dressed in red to show solidarity—lined the sidewalk, waving signs that read “Fair contract now!” and “If we can’t support our families, we can’t teach.” The entrance of the school became a sea of red as chants echoed through the air, drums pounded, and passing cars honked in support.
The strike, which began Monday morning, has shown no signs of slowing down, and teachers have vowed to remain on the picket line until they reach an agreement with the school board of directors.
By Tuesday morning, the impact of the strike was clear. Classrooms were mostly empty, with students reporting 5 to 10 classmates per class, compared to the usual 30 to 35. Some students, unsure whether to stay on campus with most teachers and classmates absent, attended only a period or two before leaving.
The usually bustling school felt eerily quiet, with empty hallways and only a handful of cars in the parking lot. Throughout the morning, a steady stream of parents arrived to pick up their children, who waited outside.
While many parents expressed support for teachers, they also voiced concerns about the disruption to their children’s education. Some said the students were left unattended with little administrative or security presence.
“ It’s been a struggle, even considering we’re only one day in,” said Tara Hernandez, who has a freshman and two juniors at the school.
Her youngest son had a substitute teacher in class Monday, but with few students in class the instructor had them read during the entire period. Her older son’s teacher didn’t show up, leaving students to wander the campus.
“I was there at one o’clock, and there were students just roaming campus without security, telling them where to go or what to do,” she said. “It’s extremely disappointing. I feel like we’ve been lied to by administration. We were assured that there’d be extra security on campus, and I did see some security, but it’s not the extra that they’ve committed to us.”
Hernandez also worries about gaps in learning, particularly for her older children, who are in rigorous courses like chemistry and statistics.
“I told my kids, we are not crossing the picket line. We are in full support of the teachers,” she said. “But, there are some things that we can’t supplement at home, like I can’t teach my 17-year-old statistics.”
Miles Basurto, a parent of a ninth grader at the school, said he believes the teachers’ strike comes at a cost to students, who shouldn’t be used as “pawns” in negotiations between UTLA and the school.
“I understand that (the teachers) wanted to prove a point and all of that stuff, but unfortunately they are proving their point at the cost of children’s education,” he said. “I feel like they’re more concerned about their money and their retiree benefits than they are the long term effects of our children’s education. My child will never be able to get back these days that she’s losing.”
Many students at the school voiced their support for the teachers.
Ximena Atilano, a junior, said she believes teachers have the right to strike, even though the disruption to learning concerns her.
“They should keep on doing it, especially the Spanish teachers, they have to pay more with their money to buy all the students things, I heard that. Right now, it’s kind of crazy, everything is still getting situated.”