Press Releases

Mediation sessions begin Wednesday, October 1, at UTLA headquarters.

September 30, 2008 – In an effort to reach a contract agreement and head off a possible strike by teachers next year, UTLA and LAUSD will begin mediation sessions on October 1. Both sides declared in September that they had reached an impasse in contract talks.  read more »

September 22 – In an effort to ramp-up public pressure and expose the shortcomings of their “lemon” principal to a wider audience, Dolores St. Elementary School teachers and parents will bring their concerns to the LAUSD school board meeting on Tuesday September 23. read more »

State agency agrees LAUSD violated state law by cancelling teacher training days.

September 19, 2008 – United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) has been informed that the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) has issued a formal complaint against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for the unilateral cancellation of teacher professional development days in August, prior to the start of the school year.  read more »

Press conference at CA Republican Party headquarters demands action now.

September 4, 2008 – On Friday September 5, Los Angeles families, workers and members of community based organizations will hold a press conference outside the California Republican Party headquarters to show their frustration with Republican actions that have caused a budget impasse. The press conference is one of a series of events throughout California on Sept. 5, urging action on the long overdue state budget.  read more »

Teachers refuse to set up classrooms early, in protest against District’s 0% salary increase offer and threats of pay cut.

August 29, 2008 - Every year in Los Angeles and other cities, thousands of hours of unpaid time is donated by teachers to set up their classrooms before the first day of school. This year Los Angeles area teachers will not be setting up classrooms early on their own time, in response to the LAUSD refusal to offer teachers a pay raise last year and the threat of salary cuts. read more »

Teacher training will now be held during instructional time and will pull teachers from classrooms.

July 30, 2008 – United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) yesterday filed an unfair labor practice charge with the state of California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) denied UTLA members’ rights in their recent decision to cancel the long-standing practice of scheduling professional development for teachers prior to the beginning of the school year, before students are in the classroom.  read more »

UTLA teachers and parents fight back against twice transferred principal.

July 28, 2008 – Teachers, parents, and students will take the unusual step of staging an overnight “sleepover” protest beginning Wednesday, July 30th at 5:30 p.m. at Dolores St. Elementary School in Carson, demanding the removal of “lemon” principal Anna Barraza, who has been twice transferred from other LAUSD campuses.  read more »

Teachers’ union and school district set goals to improve student health.

July 08, 2008 – The LAUSD school board today will vote on a motion entitled “Physical education is a priority” that recognizes that a quality education program must also ensure that our children are physically fit. The motion, if approved, is designed to bring the school district into compliance with State Department of Education mandates on physical education. read more »

Teachers, students and parents show their appreciation.

June 19, 2008 – On Monday, June 23 teachers, parents, students and community members of Gulf Ave. Elementary School will celebrate “Mrs. B Day” honoring the exoneration of Mrs. Delores Buettgenbach, the soon to be retired 20-year veteran principal.  read more »

June 16, 2008 – Dolores St. teachers and parents enter their fourth week of protests aimed at dislodging their principal, Anna Barraza, with a meeting scheduled for today with LAUSD officials at District 8 headquarters in Gardena. read more »