It was stormy with a 100-percent chance of inspiring solidarity on Day Three of the El Camino Real (ECR) Charter High School educators’ strike.

Rain fell all morning in Los Angeles, but that didn’t dampen picket lines that were stronger than ever as UTLA members and supporters called on the charter school board of directors and management to bargain a fair contract and end the strike now. Charter school management continued to refuse to negotiate a fair agreement and end the strike, telling ECR UTLA members that they were not available to bargain until Friday – and then only for two hours.

“Why are we being asked to wait until Friday? How can we possibly resolve this in just two hours when it has remained unresolved for the past 17 months,” ECR UTLA’s bargaining team said in a response letter. “To delay a meeting until Friday is irresponsible to the students, their families and the entire ECR community. We urge your team to make the time to meet sooner and dedicate the time necessary to settle this contract.”

ECR educators and parents are standing united in calling on school management and the board to return to negotiations and end the strike.

“I don’t believe in the administration anymore. They are not working with us. Here we are on the third day of our strike, and they won’t meet with us until Friday because their lawyers can’t make it,” said Sue Schuster, the school’s only engineering teacher. “If they’re really here for the students, why aren’t they meeting with us right away, so that we can get back in our classrooms?”

Picketing for the third straight day, this time in the rain, educators were shocked by school management’s lack of concern and will to end the strike.

“I didn’t think we would ever get to this point. This strike to me is truly about respect,” said Kate Rechner, ECR special education teacher and UTLA member. “Instead of working with us, management decided to threaten us by saying they had to cut a third of our workforce and it didn’t make any sense.”

Special education math teacher and wrestling coach John Terndrup said the ongoing delay and lack of concern by ECR management means he likely won’t be able to coach in this weekend’s state finals – a huge disappointment for him and his students.

“I’m not going to be able to go coach my kids that I’ve had for four years now,” he said. “I don’t believe the administration is bargaining in good faith. I’m striking for respect and accountability.”

After a failed mediation process and working without a contract since July 2024, more than 135 members of ECR UTLA hit the picket lines Monday morning in a fight for the school, support and resources their students deserve. ECR’s school board and administration continues to fail students and the school community, who are crying out for leadership, respect and support for the educators who make ECR a special place.

“We are striking for a livable wage, so I can take my son to daycare and afford our rent and food,” said Audra Herrera, an English teacher. “This is about respect and love for our teachers and shouting out that we make the school what it is.”

Teaching and learning conditions continue to be an issue at ECR — there were more students per teacher at the school than any other similar size charter high school in the San Fernando Valley in the 2023-24 school year, and the school’s average student-to-teacher ratio is 20 percent higher than comparable schools. Despite this understaffing, the ECR board recently approved potential cuts of 44 credentialed educator positions, including nine in special education – while approving a retroactive raise for administrators at the same meeting.

Take action to support ECR educators by sending a letter to the ECR Board of Directors and calling on them to settle a fair contract and end this strike now. Union educators say they’re committed to being out on the picket line until a deal is reached.

“This strike has really brought us all together,” says math teacher Eric Wells. “It’s really good for us teachers being strong and united together.”

Follow the ongoing struggle on Instagram at @ecrutla.