Los Angeles educators and school administrators just locked in a hefty pay boost and a wave of new support positions, with union members overwhelmingly ratifying fresh contracts that union leaders say helped head off a districtwide strike.
The votes capped months of tense bargaining that produced tentative agreements in mid-April and, in the end, kept LAUSD classrooms open instead of on the picket line.
United Teachers Los Angeles says its two-year deal reshapes the salary schedule so that the average classroom teacher ends up with a 13.86% raise, while the smallest implemented increase is 8%. According to UTLA, the agreement also adds more than 450 new counselor, psychologist, and attendance-support positions, builds in district-paid parental leave, includes protections against artificial intelligence, and phases in retroactive and scheduled raises through June 30, 2027.
Contract Highlights for Administrators
On the management side, AALA and Teamsters Local 2010 report that their package delivers compounded wage increases of about 12.15% by January 2027, along with new workload protections and flex-time rules for administrators. Teamsters Local 2010 notes that the deal includes a $5,000 annual stipend for principals at priority or single-administrator schools and places explicit limits on uncompensated overtime.
Union leaders say members did not hesitate. Eligible UTLA members backed their contract by roughly 92%, and AALA/Teamsters certificated and Unit J ballots also passed by overwhelming margins. As reported by CBS Los Angeles, chapters across the district wrapped up a mix of mail and online voting to seal the deals.
LAUSD is framing the numbers a bit differently, saying its calculation puts salary-scale increases at 11.65% and sets a new starting teacher salary near $77,000. In a news release, LAUSD said the agreements are crafted to keep campuses open and stabilize staffing after extended negotiations.
Cost and Next Steps
The price tag is as large as the headlines. The raises and staffing promises are expected to cost more than $1.17 billion annually, which has district officials signaling they will seek additional state funding and hunt for internal savings. The Los Angeles Times details the cost breakdown and notes that critics argue the timing could worsen a projected budget shortfall if new revenue does not materialize.
Union leaders say they will be watching closely as LAUSD rolls out the new terms and pays out retroactive sums. In a statement to CBS Los Angeles, UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz said, “This agreement is a direct result of educators and school workers standing united and refusing to back down.”
