Schools

Teachers' Union Says LAUSD's Revised Contract Falls Way Short

Bargaining talks between the LAUSD and United Teachers Los Angeles are set to resume Thursday.

The president of the union representing Los Angeles Unified School District employees said today that a revised contract offer from the district falls short of educator needs.

Bargaining talks between the LAUSD and United Teachers Los Angeles are set to resume Thursday.

The district's latest offer includes a raise of 2 percent over two years, with a 2.5 percent increase in the third year. Additional raises would be dependent on the district's financial health.

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The district's initial offer was a one-time, 2 percent increase.

The union, which represents 35,000 teachers and other staff, has rejected both proposals and is seeking a 17.6 percent salary increase over several years.

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Superintendent John Deasy has said he will not comment during negotiations.

District officials told L.A. School Report that the pay raises offered are equal to an 8.6 percent increase over three years, and 26.3 percent when factoring in health care coverage and other benefits.

Alex Caputo-Pearl, the new UTLA president, said the union is heading to the negotiation table to get a good contract, and that a strike is still possible.

"We're hoping for the best, but we're also preparing for the worst in the sense that we're organizing our members and organizing with parents and community (members) around community priorities in order to have the capacity to strike if we need to," Caputo-Pearl said.

Teachers and district employees have taken an 8 percent cut in pay in the past and have not received a cost-of-living increase, he said.

"Everybody knows that restoration and a raise is something that all workers need, and certainly, educators are part of that," Caputo-Pearl said.

He added that the union wants to see the return of "social and emotional supports, as well as electives like music and art that have been cut out of a lot of schools."

--City News Service


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