Los Angeles Unified Teachers Ratify Contract With 21 Percent Pay Raise, Critics Question Affordability

Los Angeles public school staff, teachers, and supporters rally outside of the school district headquarters on the first day of a three day strike in Los Angeles on March 21, 2023. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

The union representing Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) teachers voted to ratify its contract with the district last week, meaning the union’s 35,000 members will get a 21 percent bump in pay over the next two years.

United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) announced that 94 percent of their members voted to ratify the tentative agreement on May 5.