Teachers, Union Lobby LAUSD School Board for More Pay

Los Angeles Unified School District teachers and union officials urged the district today to restore salary cuts and positions as part of its proposed $6.8 billion budget for the upcoming school year.

The Board of Education heard from 30 speakers ahead of a vote expected next week on the 2014-15 budget proposed by Superintendent John Deasy.

Before the meeting began, United Teachers Los Angeles President Warren Fletcher said the district falls below the national per-student average for nurses, librarians and social workers.

"The superintendent's budget does not do nearly enough to restore those key positions," Fletcher said at a rally outside LAUSD headquarters.

District officials are in contract negotiations with UTLA, and two weeks ago, offered a 2 percent raise for all teachers for the current school year, with another 2 percent increase next year.

The union, which represents 35,000 teachers and other staff, rejected the proposal. It has been seeking a 17.6 percent salary increase over several years.

Deasy declined to comment because of ongoing negotiations with the union, but he told CBS2 the district is trying to support UTLA and other labor partners.

About 50 people attended the UTLA rally waving signs that read, "Fight for the schools L.A. students deserve."

Alex Caputo-Pearl, UTLA president-elect, said teachers need to fight for a fair budget.

"Right now we need to fight for the schools that L.A. students deserve, the class-size reduction we deserve, the staffing we deserve, the direct service that students deserve and the restoration and pay raise that educators deserve," Caputo-Pearl said.

A vote on the district's budget is set for next Tuesday.

--City News Service