LAUSD vs. UTLA, Round 1
Just like the old Johnny Mathis song "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," another familar feeling is creeping in as we approach the holidays. This song could be called "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like a Contract Fight."
United Teachers Los Angeles launched the opening salvo. In an Oct. 17 "negotiations update" on the Web site, the union reported its opening demand for a 9 percent pay raise. The district has countered with a zero percent raise. Negotiations begin Oct. 31.
The union, which secured a 6 percent raise for the 2006-07 year, claims the money for a raise is available because the district received a 4.53 percent cost-of-living increase from the state.