L.A. Schools, Teachers Union Close In on Contract

Negotiators for the Los Angeles Unified School District and the 43,000-member teachers union Thursday fell just short of reaching a tentative contract agreement that would forestall a Feb. 27 strike.

The two sides recessed the talks in the afternoon when Supt. Roy Romer had to leave to catch a plane. The former Colorado governor is spending the holidays with his family.

The sessions are expected to resume early in January.

Neither side would comment on the terms being discussed.

“We’ve been negotiating intensely for the last two days,” Romer said. “The time spent has been useful, and we will continue to negotiate.”

United Teachers-Los Angeles President Day Higuchi said the union and the district had agreed not to discuss proposals “until a comprehensive agreement has been reached, or the talks reach impasse.”

Sources close to the district said Romer had sweetened his offer with a 1% bonus. The current offer, they said, also includes an 11% pay increase and increases to maintain health and welfare benefits and make permanent a bonus given last year.

Before the talks this week, Romer had twice bumped up the district’s initial offer. The teachers, who have been working without a contract since July 1, initially demanded a raise package of nearly 21%.