Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement regarding the LAUSD strike:

The Janitors, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and teacher aids who care for our children day-in and day-out are an essential part of our public education system. They are underpaid and undervalued, earning poverty wages from the nation’s second largest school district and then subject to harassment and intimidation when they demand better. This is simply unacceptable. 

Our education workers have dedicated their lives to making sure our children receive the best education possible. They deserve to be treated with respect in their fight to secure a living wage and every worker everywhere deserves to speak up without fear of retaliation. I stand with SEIU Local 99 and our teachers at UTLA who are supporting their brothers and sisters of Local 99.