LAUSD and teachers union reach tentative pact, may avoid Tuesday strike

Early deal increases teacher salaries and beginning pay to $77,000 annually

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:27pm

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The Los Angeles Unified School District has reached a tentative 2-year agreement with the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union, which represents around 35,000 educators who were planning to strike on Tuesday. The deal includes an 11.65% increase in salary scales and raises the starting teacher salary to $77,000 per year.

Why it matters

A strike by LAUSD teachers would have disrupted education for hundreds of thousands of students across Los Angeles. This tentative agreement avoids that major disruption and demonstrates the district's commitment to investing in its teaching workforce.

The details

The tentative agreement was reached early on Sunday, April 12th. It covers a 2-year period and includes an 11.65% increase in salary scales for UTLA members as well as raising the starting teacher salary to $77,000 per year. LAUSD is still working to reach agreements with its other labor unions, including bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers, in order to keep schools fully operational on the planned strike date of April 14th.

  • The tentative agreement was reached on April 12, 2026.
  • The planned teacher strike was scheduled for April 14, 2026.

The players

Los Angeles Unified School District

The second-largest school district in the United States, serving over 600,000 students across Los Angeles.

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

The labor union representing approximately 35,000 educators employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Service Employees International Union, Local 99 - Education Workers United

The union representing LAUSD's bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and special education staff.

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What’s next

LAUSD will continue to meet with its remaining labor partners throughout the weekend in order to reach additional agreements that would allow schools to remain open on the planned strike date of April 14th.

The takeaway

This tentative agreement between LAUSD and its teachers' union represents a significant investment in the district's educator workforce and avoids a potentially disruptive strike that could have impacted hundreds of thousands of students. It demonstrates the district's commitment to supporting its teachers and maintaining educational continuity for the community.