LAUSD and teachers union reach tentative agreement, but there could still be a strike Tuesday

Los Angeles school officials announced on Sunday morning that a tentative agreement has been reached with the teachers union, making it possible that a planned Tuesday strike could be averted.

The tentative two-year agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles would significantly increase salaries and raise the beginning teacher salary to $77,000 per year.

The nearly 13.86% average increase is intended to “close the pay gap and strengthen recruitment and retention across the district,” according to a statement from UTLA. The ongoing cost of the agreement with UTLA is $650 million per year, a district spokesperson said. In addition to salary hikes, the district has agreed to hire more counselors, give four weeks of paid parental leave and reduce class sizes in 11th and 12th grades.

L.A. Unified is continuing to meet with two other unions — Local 99 of Service Employees International Union and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles — to reach additional agreements that would avert a strike and keep schools open Tuesday.

If the other unions fail to reach a tentative agreement with L.A. Unified, the 37,000-member UTLA intends to wield its considerable power and honor the pickets of the other unions, according to UTLA, shuttering schools. The teachers union is able to do so because its agreement is not yet ratified, allowing union members to go on a solidarity strike, the union said in a bulletin to members.

“Over the last 14 months, educators were told to settle for less while the district sat on funds meant for classrooms and students,” said Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA president. “Our community knows schools succeed when educators are respected, fairly paid, and given the support to meet students’ needs.”

Julie Van Winkle, UTLA vice president, said the tentative agreement “directly tackles the challenges our schools have faced for years and delivers a historic win for those who make public education possible.”

Talks between UTLA and L.A. Unified unfolded Saturday. District negotiators were armed with the latest instructions and improved offers that emerged after a lengthy closed session of the school board on Friday.

Talks continue

Meetings with Local 99 were set for Sunday. In a midday statement, the union said leaders will continue to move forward with strike plans if an agreement is not reached before Tuesday — and teachers and administrators will “stand in solidarity” with them.

The UTLA agreement shows that “the school district can make movement to address the needs of front-line workers and the students we serve,” said Max Arias, SEIU Local 99 executive director.

AALA leaders also were expecting to see an updated salary offer during a 3 p.m. meeting. “We are closer than ever to a contract settlement — and to avoiding a strike — because of you,” Maria Nichols, AALA president, told members Sunday morning.

The three unions, each with separate contracts, cover about 70,000 of the district’s 83,300 employees and nearly all campus workers. For the first time in L.A. Unified, all three had joined together and threatened to walk out if agreements could not be reached — shutting down all schools operated by the nation’s second-largest school system, with about 390,000 students.

Concurrent with negotiations, strike preparations have been at full steam.

The school district released details of plans to assist students and families during a walkout. And unions have been printing and distributing signs, and organizing pickets and mega-rallies. Local 99 was arranging food distribution for its members — who are among the district’s lowest paid workers with an average salary of about $35,000 per year, according to the union.

UTLA represents teachers, nurses, counselors, psychologists and librarians.

Local 99 represents about 30,000 teacher aides, campus aides, gardeners, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and tech support staff.

Associated Administrators represents about 3,000 principals and assistant principals — all of whom have a teaching credential — in one unit and, in a separate unit, various middle managers who don’t have a teaching credential.

Five unions — including school clerical workers, plant and cafeteria managers, building trades and school police — settled their contracts previously.

Update on the teachers

The tentative agreement appears to show that, at the end, both sides gave ground over pay. The deal, however, shortens the length of the contract from the typical three years to two years. Since the previous contract expired last June 30, the tentative deal is nearly halfway to its own end — meaning the bargaining cycle would be restarting soon.

In its proposal, the union had pushed for a different approach. It wanted steep increases to the automatic raises teachers already receive based on years of experience and additional education credits. The district was willing to accept this concept, while also expressing concerns about the affordability of the change. The union said Sunday that important goals in this area had been achieved.

The union also sought to push up the annual salary of a starting teacher. Under the agreement, this pay would immediately rise from $68,965 to $77,000, an 11.7% jump.

UTLA has said the raises are needed to offset the impact of inflation in an already high-cost region. If the raise results in better teacher retention, then the district and students also would benefit — provided that the increase is affordable.

According to the union, the tentative agreement also includes:

• Expanding student support by adding more than 450 attendance counselors, psychiatric social workers, school psychologists and counselor positions.
• Better control of class sizes for students with disabilities — including extra pay for teachers whose classes exceed the maximum number.
• Establishing protections against subcontracting and artificial intelligence.
• Commitments to support immigrant students and families, including expansion of resource centers for them.

Educators will receive the details of the tentative agreement in the coming days and will begin the voting process, which could take up to two weeks, according to UTLA.

Local 99 update

The two sides met Thursday and were also scheduled to meet Sunday.

“LAUSD’s offer is still NOT ENOUGH,” a union update said last week. “Local 99 members are struggling to make ends meet. After two years at the bargaining table, the District is still coming up short.”

Details about proposals are harder to come by than with UTLA — which tends to post on significant developments.

Local 99 members have been working under terms of an expired contract since June 30, 2024, and include some of the district’s lowest-paid workers.

In its posted materials, the district describes its offer as 13% over three years. The union wants more, with the terms varying depending on the job.

Local 99 is also seeking stable work schedules because many of its members have had their hours reduced due to budget cuts. In some cases, these workers fell below the threshold of hours needed to qualify for health benefits. The union says the average salary for its members is $35,000 per year.

Local 99 has announced it will coordinate distribution of food boxes for members in need. Food distribution will take place “after the strike rallies” at downtown’s Molina Grand Park on Tuesday and Friday.

“Quantities are limited,” the union noted. “We encourage you to register and come prepared — for example, bringing a cart to carry items.”

Update on administrators

In a recent update, AALA/Teamsters 2010 said it is seeking a 7% raise for the current school year and 6% for next year. The union described the district‘s offer as 4% and 4%.

“This does not meet the moment,” the union said in an alert to members, “not with the rising cost of living, not with the increased workload, not when salaried administrators receive no overtime or additional compensation for extended days. We are close — but salary must reflect the value of our work.”

Instructions for families

On Thursday, the district posted lists of food distribution sites and community-based “child supervision” sites that could take in a limited number of children.

Children with moderate to severe disabilities cannot be accommodated. Nor can children younger than 4.