In Partnership with 74

2 percent bonus arrives for school principals, plus others

Vanessa Romo | September 17, 2014



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LAUSD principals and teachers get two percent bonusMore than 13,000 LA Unified employees of labor groups that struck new contract deals with the district are receiving a 2 percent lump sum payment this week.

Among those that found the extra bump in their bank accounts are members of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA), which includes school principals, assistant principals, administrators as well as maintenance, operations and food services managers.

According the district, school administrators can expect a check ranging from $1,100 to $2,700 depending on their pay.

“Both AALA bargaining units negotiated the 2 percent bonus and are pleased to have received it,” union president Judy Perez told LA School Report. “While 2 percent is not ideal, we appreciate the fact that we did reach an agreement with the district on compensation for the next three years.”

The California School Employees Association and Teamsters Local Union 572 reached the same salary agreement with the district. All four groups also received a 2 percent raise in August, plus a 4.5 percent increase over the next two years.

In all, LA Unified officials report the cost of the bonuses is $12.4 million.

“All of our employees made sacrifices during the ‘Great Recession’ and we are extremely grateful…We know 2 percent isn’t nearly enough to show our appreciation for all the dedicated services to our students, but it is a step in the right direction,” the district said in a statement.

The district is still in contract talks with the teachers union, UTLA, with the two sides reporting little progress. They are leagues apart on the salary issue; UTLA is demanding a 17.6 percent salary increase while the district has not budged from the offer it made with almost everyone else – a 2 percent bonus, 2 percent salary increase for this year and next, and a 2.5 percent boost in 2016-17.

That was the deal accepted by AALA. But despite the three-year contract, Perez says, it plans to re-open salary negotiations next year to obtain improved compensation.

“It’s not the end of the story. We are going to keep working on getting more for our members.”

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