Los Angeles schools could close for 3 days as thousands of teachers, staff set to strike

Tens of thousands of workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District are set to strike for three days next week over stalled contract talks, and teachers will join them, likely shutting down the nation's second-largest school system, union leaders announced Wednesday.

Unless a deal is reached, the strike was set to begin Tuesday, March 21. It was announced at a rally by the Service Employees International Union, which represents about 30,000 teachers' aides, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and other support staff.

United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing 35,000 teachers, counselors and other staff, expressed solidarity.