PSL candidate for L.A. mayor: ‘Stop the attacks on union teachers!’

On Jan. 29, Carlos Alvarez, PSL candidate for Los Angeles mayor, marched in solidarity with the United Teachers Los Angeles union against proposed state and local school district budget cuts. Alvarez spoke with many teachers, and campaign volunteers distributed thousands of flyers.

Click here to download the Carlos Alvarez campaign statement in solidarity with UTLA teachers.

Unlike current Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is threatening public employee layoffs and budget cuts, the PSL Alvarez campaign fully opposes layoffs and cuts to education. Alvarez demands more funding for schools and the hiring of new teachers. Free, quality education for all is a right. Instead of letting workers shoulder the burden of the economic crisis, the government should tax the banks and corporations that created the crisis in the first place.

The PSL Alvarez campaign released the following statement supporting UTLA teachers:

“The PSL Carlos Alvarez campaign for Los Angeles mayor fully supports UTLA’s struggle against threatened wage, benefit and budget cuts. Your struggle is our struggle!

“The California government has waged a full-blown attack against students, teachers and staff. This week, the Republican and Democratic leadership proposed to cut $3.9 billion in education funds from next year’s fiscal budget. In addition, Schwarzenegger’s plan to shorten the school year, and force unpaid furlough days would amount to a 10 percent pay cut for LAUSD teachers. The district is also threatening to eliminate retirement benefits for new teachers and cut health benefits. Its plan for mass layoffs is only on hold.

“The Alvarez campaign believes that the wealthy banks, corporations and billionaires—not teachers—should pay for the economic crisis they created. The money for teachers is there, but the federal government is too busy bailing out Wall Street criminals and spending trillions on unjust wars abroad. All that money should be used instead for local governments in crisis and to fund people’s needs. Only the people can bring about real change!”