Los Angeles teachers and staff are preparing to go on strike in response to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) failure to meet their demands for better wages and working conditions. The strike has been announced for three days and will result in a possible shutdown of the district’s schools.

According to Fox News, the union representing LAUSD employees demands “equitable” wages and better staffing levels to improve the quality of education in the district. The LAUSD has contested the demands and has filed a legal challenge in an attempt to stop the strike from taking place.

LAUSD’s last-ditch legal challenge to stop the looming strike and school closures was reported by the Los Angeles Times. The challenge is viewed as a desperate attempt to save face after the district failed to reach a resolution with the union.

In an editorial published by the Los Angeles Times, the strike is described as harmful to Los Angeles and its residents. Shutting down schools for three days, at a time when children need to focus on their education, will clearly have a negative impact on families and the communities they serve.

As stated by KCAL News, the strike looms as the continued failure of negotiations makes it more likely that LAUSD employees will leave their jobs in pursuit of better conditions. The news organization noted that the planned strike could be the beginning of an extended work stoppage, that would further harm LAUSD and its already struggling finances.