Giving Compass' Take:

· According to The 74, 21 black pastors have signed a letter to UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl urging Los Angeles teachers to continue negotiating their terms during the strike. 

· How can strikes be avoided in the future? How can community member engage with the strike process?

· Learn more about the Los Angels teacher strike. 

Nearly two dozen African-American pastors urged United Teachers Los Angeles to return to the negotiating table because “the fortunes of African-American children do not improve on a picket line.”

The letter, dated Tuesday, was addressed to UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl and released by L.A. Unified on Wednesday.

“While we support the exercise of your member’s First Amendment rights and utilization of the protections afforded employees under California law, negotiators should be at the table crafting a solution to end the strike,” the letter states.

Late Wednesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that both parties will resume negotiations at noon Thursday at City Hall. A UTLA official statedthat newly elected State Superintendent Tony Thurmond also had been in touch with both parties and offered support. The Los Angeles Times reported that Caputo-Pearl called for the strike to continue and for members to rally Friday in downtown Los Angeles.

Read the full article about the LA teacher strike by Esmeralda Fabián Romero and Laura Fay at The 74.