Local News in Brief : Schools, Teachers Seek Mediator
Deadlocked over such key issues as pay and teachers’ decision-making powers, Los Angeles teachers and the school district announced Thursday that they will ask for a state mediator to help resolve a contract dispute.
Representatives for United Teachers-Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District said they plan to contact the state Public Employment Relations Board to seek an official declaration of an impasse. That would lead to the assignment of a state-appointed mediator whose role would be to try to speed up the bargaining over a new contract.
Negotiations began nine months ago on an agreement to replace the three-year contract that expired last June.
The union recently rejected a district offer to raise teacher pay by 17% over three years and is holding firm to its demand for a 12% increase this year.
“We’re not getting anywhere,” said union Vice President Marvin Katz.
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