Rising Up In the Streets: Los Angeles Teachers Begin Historic Strike

FEATURING SONALI KOLHATKAR – Los Angeles public school teachers began a historic strike on Monday – for the first time in 30 years. The nation’s second largest school district has refused to tap into its record reserve of $1.86 billion in order to reduce class sizes, hire more support staff such as counselors and nurses, and more. Up to half a million children are impacted as more than 30,000 teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians and other staff walk off their jobs, tired of two years of failed contract negotiations. Thousands of teachers and their supporters gathered on a cold and rainy day in downtown Los Angeles to launch the teachers’ strike. As part of our on-going series Rising Up In the Streets, we bring you this report.