LAUSD educators ratify agreement

LOS ANGELES, CA

By an overwhelming margin of 94.13 percent, UTLA members — who include approximately 35,000 teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians and other members of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) – ratified a three-year tentative agreement on Friday, May 5.

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AN estimated 27,171 total ballots were cast. Following eleven months of intense negotiations, UTLA’s bargaining team inked a temporary agreement with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Voting was held in-person and online from May 2-4.

The 2022-2025 agreement includes a 21% salary increase for all UTLA members over three years; an overall class size reduction by two students in ev- ery grade at every school; more college counselors, academic counselors, pupil services and attendance counselors, psychiatric social workers, and school psychologists; and enforceable class size caps for special education. “Families of Special Education students often look to the public school system to give their children the care and education they need, but Special Education has been on the backburner of receiving the support we desperately need,” said Deborah Schneider Solis, Special Education teacher at Arminta Elementary. “This agreement not only increases wages to address the educator shortage, but also enforces class caps for Special Education classes as well as additional support staffing. These improvements will help our most vulnerable students receive a good education that accommodates their needs.”

By participating in site pickets, boycotts, a 60,000-member joint rally and solidarity strike with SEIU 99, LAUSD employees spread the message about the tough challenges educators are experiencing experienced in the face of an unprecedented teacher shortage and record-high inflation.

Educators take part in the 2019 United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) strike in 2019.

“This agreement demonstrates that when we stand together, we can transform our schools for the better. It acknowledges the impact of the pandemic, years of disinvestment and economic hardship, while standing firm on things school faculty need to provide quality education to our students,” said Cecily Myart-Cruz, president of United Teachers Los Angeles. “Our efforts to mobilize members, parents and community supporters were vital to our success. This contract will set the national standard for all other educators to achieve liveable wages and solidify an equitable future where students are supported in a healthy learning environment.” UTLA’s contract demands were developed by members, parents, and community allies over months of meetings and dialogue to address the urgent needs of LAUSD students. In addition to implementing the biggest salary increase in 34 years, LAUSD has agreed to put in contract language that addresses community needs such as increased support for the Black Student Achievement Program (BSAP), housing and immigrant support, and the creation of greenspaces, including outdoor education spaces and programs.

Highlights of the agreement include:

• A 21% salary increase for all UTLA members

• Added staffing for student support – Social Workers, School Psychologists, Counselors, and more

• Competitive salaries to hire School Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, School Psychologists, Social Workers, Speech and Language Pathologists, Special Educators, Early Childhood Educators, Teachers, and more to fill vacant positions

• Joint work to identify unused LAUSD property to convert to housing, school-based supports, and advocate for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for unhoused students and their families, affordable housing, and tenant protections.

• Partnerships to provide legal and financial support for immigrant students and their families, plus steps for expanding services

• First ever enforceable Special Education caseload caps and reductions