Los Angeles teachers approve 1-day strike

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LOS ANGELES, May 2 (UPI) -- Los Angeles public school teachers plan to strike for one day this month to protest plans to eliminate jobs and increase class size, their union said.

Members of United Teachers Los Angeles approved the job action, leaders announced Friday. They asked parents to join them, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

"We expect parents to understand that the loss of one day to stop the chaos that would occur with larger class sizes and the laying off of teachers is well worth it," UTA President A.J. Duffy said. "This is about maintaining the integrity of the education program."

The school board voted in April to cut almost $600 million from the budget. That could mean 5,400 layoffs, including 3,500 non-tenured teachers.

The cuts are likely to mean major changes. Schools in higher-income areas are expected to lose more teachers and end up with larger classes. Schools in poorer areas could have major turnover in staff because teachers there are less likely to have tenure.