Educators at four Alliance College-Ready charter schools in Los Angeles are on a one-day Unfair Labor Practice strike today in response to the Alliance Board of Directors refusing to bargain for more than three years, despite multiple orders to do so by the state Public Employment Relations Board.

Picket lines have been packed with educators, families and community supporters since early this morning at Alliance Burton Tech, Alliance Gertz-Merkin, Alliance Leichtman Levine Family Foundation ESAT, and Alliance Morgan McKinzie High School. A supermajority of educators at these schools voted to unionize with United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) more than three years ago, yet Alliance management has refused to recognize the union since.

“We have spent four years attempting to have our voices heard,” said Michael Miller, an Alliance history teacher. “Meanwhile, Alliance has spent four years ignoring teachers, students and court orders.”

Alliance Educators United is made up of teachers, counselors, psychologists and education professionals in the Alliance College-Ready Public Schools. They are fighting for the resources and services their students need, smaller class sizes, teacher and counselor recruitment, educator voice in decision-making and a union contract, so students will no longer have to wonder if their teachers will be back next year.

“Our schools need to rebuild our teams every year, and all of our teachers are burned out,” said Alliance teacher Tony To. “It is heartbreaking when a student comes up to you and says ‘are you coming back next year?’ Alliance, you leave us no choice but to strike.”

Follow along and amplify the voices of these educators on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about Alliance Educators United and send a letter of support calling on Alliance to bargain with educators by visiting allianceeducators.com.