TEACHERS AGREE TO NEW PACT ACCORD, OK'D BY TIGHT MARGIN, GIVES 2% RAISE.Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer In the tightest ratification The confirmation or adoption of an act that has already been performed. A principal can, for example, ratify something that has been done on his or her behalf by another individual who assumed the authority to act in the capacity of an agent. vote in union history, Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. teachers agreed Friday to accept a new contract that provides 2 percent pay raises and maintains free health care premiums. About 54 percent of United Teachers Los Angeles' 26,428 voters signed off on the contract - staving stave n. 1. A narrow strip of wood forming part of the sides of a barrel, tub, or similar structure. 2. A rung of a ladder or chair. 3. A staff or cudgel. 4. Music See staff1. off the possibility of a strike but highlighting continued tension within the UTLA UTLA United Teachers of Los Angeles (California) . ``It does represent a division in the union,'' said President John Perez, who was recently ousted for more aggressive leaders who favored pay raises of up to 7 percent. ``They have to mend some fences with the majority of members who felt this was a decent contract.'' The contract, which took 20 months to negotiate and expires in June 2006, includes pay raises that are retroactive Having reference to things that happened in the past, prior to the occurrence of the act in question. A retroactive or retrospective law is one that takes away or impairs vested rights acquired under existing laws, creates new obligations, imposes new duties, or attaches a to July 2004. Superintendent Roy Romer Roy R. Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City, Kansas, United States) was the 39th governor of Colorado and served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2001 to 2006. said he's pleased teachers accepted the deal. ``It's a fair agreement. We put on the table all we could afford,'' he said. ``Times are tough and we did a good job.'' The school board is scheduled to give the contract an approval vote Tuesday. If the school board approves the deal Tuesday, changes to contract language would take effect immediately, the new salary schedules would take effect in the next paycheck, and employees would be issued a separate check for the retroactive pay. The deepest split over the contract was seen in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , where only 47 percent of voters in the West Valley agreed to ratify ratify v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even though it was not approved beforehand. Example: An employee for Holsinger's Hardware orders carpentry equipment from Phillips Screws and Nails although the employee was not authorized to buy anything. the contract, compared with 65 percent in the East Valley. ``I'm shocked to hear it was so close,'' said Pam Gagan, a teacher at Maclay Middle School in Pacoima, who voted for the contract. ``That's frightening. ... We just squeaked by.'' Many teachers were unwilling to strike, she said. ``I have to look around at everyone else - my neighbors and people in other industries,'' she said. ``I don't see anyone getting great big raises anywhere right now.'' Grant High School teacher Linda Gordon, area chairwoman for the East Valley, said her area was the most supportive in the district because members ``believed the leadership didn't leave anything on the negotiating table.'' President-elect A.J. Duffy, who advocated holding out for more money and tighter language to protect teachers, said he's disappointed that the contact was approved. ``I don't think it's a good contract,'' he said. ``I think there's more money there.'' When he takes office July 1, Duffy said, he will start dissecting dis·sect tr.v. dis·sect·ed, dis·sect·ing, dis·sects 1. To cut apart or separate (tissue), especially for anatomical study. 2. the LAUSD's budget, pushing for the number of local districts to be cut from eight to four or five and researching whether the district could save money by bidding for health coverage with other urban districts. ``This bureaucracy is so bloated. It's so outrageously bloated,'' he said. School board President Jose Huizar said the district needs to move on. Teachers and administrators need to work together to fight for more education funding from the state, reduce the district's dropout (1) On magnetic media, a bit that has lost its strength due to a surface defect or recording malfunction. If the bit is in an audio or video file, it might be detected by the error correction circuitry and either corrected or not, but if not, it is often not noticed by the human rate and make sure more graduates are prepared for college. ``I think it's good news for the district and the teachers,'' Huizar said of the settlement. ``We can collectively turn our attention to a lot of pressing issues.'' Jennifer Radcliffe, (818) 713-3722 jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: UTLA officials count contract ratification ballots on Friday. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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