In other union vs. management action, the Glendale Teachers Association is mounting a rally at Brand and Wilson today at about 4 p.m. to draw attention to their contract talks stalemate with Glendale Unified. A state-appointed mediator is involved right now, and both sides are doing a numbers check.

The dispute is over the raise -- the union representing 1,400 teachers, counselors and other certificated staff are making a hard push to make up for raises they had forego in past years, while the district, which had a good budget year with an extra $12 million from Sacramento, wants to save in anticipation of declining revenues due an enrollment drop. Another meeting is scheduled June 30.

Update 7:45 p.m. -- According to GTA president Allen Freemon, about 400 of the floursecent green tee shirt-wearing union members rallied on at Wilson and Broadway this afternnoon, though their message went from demanding GUSD return to the negotiating table to let's make a deal.

Freemon told me the district, which retreated into fact-finding two weeks ago to review the numbers, called him earlier today to say they're ready to go back to the table, and they've set a June 21 meeting to work things out.

Here's what's on the table: The union is still looking for a double-digit percentage raise, but GUSD surprised them at their May meeting with a two-year proposal -- 6.1 percent for the 2006-07 school year, then another 2.6 percent for 2007-08. It's closer than where both sides were at the start of last school year, with the union proposing 12.6 percent and the GUSD countering with 5 percent. But still not quite enough...

"I think there's room to compromise on a two year deal and we want to reach a settlement," Freemon said. " We're willing to work together to make something that's fair and equitable happen."

If they go for the two-year solution, that could postpone the union's opening talks for a new three-year contract, also slated to begin in the new school year.

Here's GUSD's GTA's release from earlier...