Los Angeles school officials announced Sunday morning that a tentative agreement had been reached with the teachers union — making it possible to avoid a planned strike on Tuesday.
The proposed two-year agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles would increase “salary rates by 11.65%” and raise entry-level teacher pay from about $68,000 to $77,000 a year.
“We will continue to meet with our remaining partners throughout the weekend with the goal of reaching additional agreements that will allow us to keep schools open on Tuesday, April 14,” the district’s announcement said.
The brief district alert also noted: “More details on the 2025-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement between Los Angeles Unified and UTLA will be provided as they become available.”
Julie Van Winkle, UTLA vice president, said the proposed agreement “addresses directly the challenges our schools have faced for years and delivers a historic achievement for those who make public education successful.”
“The truth has always been clear – the district CANNOT afford these changes. With this agreement, resources will begin to be diverted away from unnecessary spending and toward the students and classrooms that need them the most,” she said. “This contract fight has never been about expanding the conflict. It has always been about the respect and investment teachers and students deserve. This TA is a powerful step forward and an important win for the Los Angeles school community.”
In order to avoid a strike, agreements must also be reached with Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union and the General Managers of Los Angeles.
Negotiations between UTLA and LA Unified took place on Saturday. District negotiators were armed with the latest orders and advanced offers that emerged after a closed school board session Friday.
Meetings with Local 99 were scheduled for Sunday. AALA leaders also expected to see new offerings. The three unions negotiating over the weekend involve about 70,000 of the county’s 83,300 workers and nearly all workers in the area.
In a historic move, all three unions have come together and threatened to walk out if agreements are not reached – closing all schools operated by the nation’s second-largest school system, with about 390,000 students.
Each union contract is different. It is not yet clear what will happen if one or two unions do not settle. But judging by the union’s statements of solidarity, it seems that the three will respect each other’s record lines. The three unions negotiating over the weekend involve about 70,000 of the county’s 83,300 workers and nearly all workers in the area.
Along with the negotiations, the preparations for the strikes have come to an end.
The school district has released details of plans to help students and families during the visit. And unions have been printing and distributing signs, organizing pickets and rallies. Local 99 organizes food distribution for its members – whose salaries average $35,000 a year, according to the union.
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) represents approximately 37,000 teachers, nurses, counselors, psychologists and librarians.
Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union represents about 30,000 teachers, campus assistants, farmers, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and technology support workers.
The Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) represents approximately 3,000 principals and assistants – all with teaching degrees – in one unit and, in a separate unit, various middle managers without teaching credentials.
Five unions – including school workers, equipment and cafeteria managers, building tradesmen and school police – have terminated their contracts earlier. It is not clear whether their members will also respect the recording lines.
Information for teachers
UTLA has a large group discussion model that includes about 150 participants. The district sends about 10 people, who also have a role to negotiate with other unions. Meetings are usually held in an empty but functional meeting room in the union’s headquarters building in Koreatown.
The proposed agreement appears to indicate that both parties agreed on the payment, but also reduced the length of the contract from the usual three years to two years.
In the district’s newly released proposal, LA Unified offered a one-time 3% bonus for the current school year, then a permanent 4% increase on July 1, 4% more on Jan. 1, 2027, and 2% more on Jan. 1, 2028. Any delay in the increase saves money for LA Unified.
The union was pushing for a different approach. It called for automatic raises for teachers already based on years of experience and additional education credits. The union also wants to push the annual salary for a beginning teacher from $68,695 to $77,670, a 13% jump – a demand that appears to have been met.
UTLA said the increase is necessary to reduce the impact of inflation in an already high-cost area.
99 local update
The two sides met on Thursday and were supposed to meet again on Sunday.
“LAUSD’s offer is NOT ENOUGH,” said a union review last week. “The 99 members of the area are burdened.
Details about the proposals are harder to come by than UTLA – which often posts important developments.
Members of Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union have been working under contract terms that expire as of June 30, 2024, and include some low-wage regional workers.
In its submissions, the district describes its contribution as 13% over three years. The union wants more, and terms vary by job.
Local 99 also wants stable work schedules because many of its members have had their hours reduced due to budget cuts. In some cases, these workers fall below the required hours limit to qualify for health benefits. The association says the salary of its members is thirty five thousand dollars ($35,000) per year.
Local 99 has announced that it will coordinate the distribution of food boxes to members in need. The food distribution will take place “after strike demonstrations” in downtown Molina Grand Park next Tuesday and Friday.
“The amount is limited,” the union noted. “We encourage you to register and come prepared – for example, bring a cart to carry the supplies.”
Review with management
Negotiations are ongoing.
In a recent update, AALA/Teamsters 2010 said it wants a 7% increase this school year and 6% next year. The union described the region as 4% and 4%.
“This is not happening yet,” the union warned members, “not with the rising cost of living, not with increased workloads, not with salaried managers not getting overtime or extra compensation for overtime. We’re close – but wages must reflect the value of our work.”
Orders for families
The district on Thursday posted lists of food distribution centers and community “child guidance” centers that can accommodate a limited number of children.
Children with moderate to severe disabilities cannot be admitted. And children under 4 cannot.
