Mediator Steps Into L.A. Teacher Pay Dispute

A state-appointed labor mediator will meet today with representatives of the Los Angeles school district and United Teachers-Los Angeles in an effort to resolve a salary dispute that has prompted the teachers union to threaten a one-day boycott of classes next week.

Negotiations between the district and the union began last June but broke down in December when an impasse was declared. The mediator will attempt to arrange a settlement, union officials said. But if mediation does not succeed, a state-appointed fact-finder will be called in to perform an independent review. A strike may legally be called only after fact-finding has taken place.

Union officials threatened next week’s one-day boycott at a rally Wednesday involving several thousand teachers at the district’s downtown offices. They did not name a specific day for the walkout. They have said they will call a strike vote if the demand for a 14% pay raise is not met.

The teachers last held a one-day walkout in September, 1983. The last strike was in 1970.

The district has offered a 7% raise over current salaries, which range from $20,298 to $35,537.

The district’s 32,000 teachers are working under a contract that is effective until 1988 but allows for renegotiation each year on pay and certain other issues.