LAUSD and Teachers Union Reach Tentative Deal, But Strike Threat Remains

Agreement includes significant pay raises, but other unions are still negotiating

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:23am

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A high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic school supply item like a pencil or notebook repeated in a vibrant, neon-colored grid, conceptually representing the tensions and uncertainties surrounding the ongoing labor negotiations in the Los Angeles Unified School District.As labor negotiations continue in Los Angeles, the potential for a widespread school strike highlights the complex challenges facing public education.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles school officials announced a tentative two-year agreement with the teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), that would raise salaries by nearly 14% on average. However, the deal has not yet been ratified, and the UTLA has indicated it may still honor picket lines of other unions, potentially shutting down schools if separate negotiations with the Service Employees International Union (Local 99) and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) fail to reach agreements by Tuesday.

Why it matters

The complex labor negotiations in the Los Angeles Unified School District highlight the challenges of balancing budgetary constraints and the needs of multiple employee groups in public sector bargaining. The UTLA's willingness to potentially strike in solidarity with other unions demonstrates increased bargaining power, but also raises uncertainty about whether schools will remain open on Tuesday.

The details

The tentative UTLA agreement would raise the starting teacher salary to $77,000 per year and cost the district $650 million annually. In addition to salary increases, the deal includes hiring more counselors, providing four weeks of paid parental leave, and reducing class sizes in 11th and 12th grades. However, the agreement is not yet ratified, allowing UTLA members to potentially participate in a solidarity strike if the Local 99 and AALA unions do not reach their own deals by Tuesday.

  • On Sunday morning, Los Angeles school officials announced the tentative UTLA agreement.
  • The UTLA agreement is not yet ratified.
  • Negotiations are ongoing with Local 99 and AALA, with a potential strike date set for Tuesday.

The players

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

The union representing teachers, nurses, counselors, psychologists and librarians in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Local 99

The Service Employees International Union local representing approximately 30,000 school employees including custodians, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers.

Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA)

The union representing school administrators in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Cecily Myart-Cruz

President of the United Teachers Los Angeles union.

Julie Van Winkle

Vice President of the United Teachers Los Angeles union.

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What they’re saying

“Over the last 14 months, educators were told to settle for less although the district sat on funds meant for classrooms and students.”

— Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA President

“The agreement 'directly tackles the challenges our schools have faced for years and delivers a historic win for those who craft public education possible.'”

— Julie Van Winkle, UTLA Vice President

What’s next

If the Local 99 and AALA unions do not reach agreements with the district by Tuesday, the UTLA has indicated it will honor their picket lines, effectively shutting down schools even though the UTLA agreement is not yet ratified.

The takeaway

The ongoing labor negotiations in the Los Angeles Unified School District underscore the complex dynamics of public sector bargaining, where multiple employee groups must have their needs balanced against budgetary constraints. The UTLA's willingness to strike in solidarity highlights the increased bargaining power of unions, but also raises uncertainty about whether schools will remain open on Tuesday.