LOS ANGELES — Contract negotiation talks are now underway between SEIU local 99 union leaders and the LAUSD, following a three-day strike that shut down the second-largest school district in the nation.

The union’s 30,000 workers, who on average make about $25k a year, are asking for a 30% increase in pay.

They say the district has enough money in their $4.9 billion reserves to meet those demands, however, district officials say most of the money in those funds are not accessible and with pandemic relief money drying up and LAUSD enrollment dropping, their funding limitations are greater than they appear.