LAUSD reaches tentative deals with teachers and administration unions as planned strike looms
By Austin Turner, Dean Fioresi
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LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — The Los Angeles Unified School District and the unions for teachers and school administrators reached tentative agreements on new contracts on Sunday, days before what was set to be a massive work shortage later this week, the district and one of the unions announced.
According to United Teachers Los Angeles, negotiators reached a tentative deal on a two-year contract early Sunday morning.
“The flexing of our collective power forced LAUSD to direct significant funding into critical priorities identified by UTLA members in the Win Our Future contract demands,” the union said.
The LAUSD said the new agreement raises union members’ salary scales by 11.65% and makes the beginning teacher salary $77,000 per year.
Sunday’s tentative agreement does not rule out a strike on Tuesday completely, as LAUSD continues to negotiate with unions representing administrators and other support staff, but the district remained optimistic that school can operate as scheduled that day. The UTLA said it will strike on Tuesday in solidarity with those unions if an agreement isn’t reached.
“We will continue to meet with our remaining labor partners throughout the weekend with the intent to reach additional agreements that would allow us to keep schools open on Tuesday, April 14,” LAUSD said.
In a news release, the UTLA summarized the tentative deal. Details include:
An average salary increase for member teachers of 13.86% Paid parental leave An additional 450 positions for school psychologists, counselors and other emotional support staff Penalty pay for educators due to special education class size violations Protections against artificial intelligence Contractual support for immigrant students and families Healthcare for substitute teachers after 93 days worked rather than 100
To go into effect, the tentative deal must be approved through a vote for members prior to ratification by the school board.
Later Sunday, LAUSD officials said that they also reached a tentative agreement with representatives for the Associated Administrators Los Angeles.
In a statement, they said that the deal would increase members’ salaries by 11.65% over two years and a reopener for year three.
“We will continue to meet with Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 99 with the intent to reach an agreement that would allow us to keep schools open on Tuesday, April 14,” the statement said.
As of Sunday night, SEIU officials said that their discussion with LAUSD officials was still ongoing. The union represents approximately 30,000 employees who work as bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and more.
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