LAUSD Faces Tough Choice on Teacher Union Demands

Giving in to UTLA's salary and staffing requests could worsen the district's financial troubles.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:19pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating grid of stylized school bus icons in vibrant neon hues, conceptually representing the tensions and uncertainties surrounding the potential teachers' strike in Los Angeles.The looming threat of a teachers' strike in Los Angeles highlights the complex financial and educational challenges facing the city's public school system.Los Angeles Today

The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union is threatening to strike if its demands for a 17% pay raise, class-size reductions, and hundreds of new support staff are not met. However, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) argues it cannot afford these requests without further weakening its already precarious financial situation, which includes projected budget deficits of over $1 billion in the coming years.

Why it matters

A lengthy teachers' strike would disrupt student learning, but LAUSD says giving in to UTLA's demands risks exacerbating its structural deficit and leading to more layoffs down the road. The district is already facing declining enrollment and high staffing levels compared to its shrinking student population.

The details

UTLA wants a 17% teacher pay hike over two years, class-size reductions, additional planning time, parental leave, and hundreds of new psychologists, social workers, and attendance counselors. LAUSD is proposing an 8% salary increase over two years plus a 3% one-time bonus, which would bring the average teacher's total compensation to around $152,000 annually. However, LAUSD argues it cannot afford UTLA's full wish list without drawing down its dwindling unrestricted reserves, which are projected to plummet from $1.6 billion in 2026 to just $10 million in 2028.

  • LAUSD is projecting budget deficits of $1.3 billion in fiscal 2026, $1.5 billion in fiscal 2027, and $628 million in fiscal 2028.
  • Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, LAUSD has lost about 75,000 students, 18% of its K-12 enrollment.

The players

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

The teachers' union representing LAUSD educators, which is threatening to strike if its demands are not met.

Andrés E. Chait

The acting superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Cecily Myart-Cruz

The president of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) union.

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What they’re saying

“We are fighting for economic security for educators and more resources for our schools and communities.”

— Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA President

“We certainly recognize that the cost of living in Los Angeles continues to rise, and in response, we have committed to significant raises for our employees, among the highest offers in the state.”

— Andrés E. Chait, Acting LAUSD Superintendent

What’s next

If UTLA proceeds with a strike, LAUSD will need to determine how to minimize disruptions to student learning while also managing its precarious financial situation.

The takeaway

LAUSD faces a difficult choice between meeting UTLA's demands, which could further weaken the district's finances, or holding firm and risking a damaging teachers' strike. The district must balance the needs of its students and employees while ensuring its long-term sustainability.