GLENDALE, CA – On Tuesday, July 9, the Glendale Unified Board of Education unanimously voted to direct the District bargaining team to declare an impasse in negotiations with the Glendale Teachers Association (GTA). An impasse is a mechanism in the negotiation process by which a state-appointed mediator becomes involved in helping all parties reach an agreement.
Since reopening the contract in April of the 2022-23 school year, members of the GUSD and GTA bargaining teams have held 12 sessions to negotiate wages and the terms of a new contract. The teams have made progress on several items, including memorandums of understanding for full-day kindergarten implementation and CDCC transitional kindergarten teachers, updating certificated evaluations to align with professional standards, and finalizing school calendars for the 2026-27 school year.
In addition to the 5% ongoing wage increase that was included in the 2020-23 Successor agreement, GUSD offered a wage proposal that includes three separate compensation increases totaling 4% for GTA members: a 1.0% ongoing increase retroactive to July 1, 2022, a 1.0% ongoing increase retroactive to January 1, 2023, and a 2.0% ongoing increase retroactive to July 1, 2023. The proposal, which was presented as a last, best, and final offer, will necessitate substantial budgetary reductions of both personnel and non-personnel expenditures districtwide to maintain financial solvency.
On June 24, GTA leadership informed their members and GUSD that, based on the results of a member survey, they would not accept the District’s wage proposal. The Board of Education and District leadership conducted a thorough budget review and confirmed that this is the best offer the District can make at this time, leading to the Board’s decision to declare an impasse.
“The Board of Education and District leadership are committed to working collaboratively with GTA to reach agreements that will support our educators to the benefit of all students. The progress we have already made in contract negotiations is a testament to the collaborative efforts of both teams,” said Board of Education President Shant Sahakian. “We look forward to a mediator's transparent review of the wage proposal and hope this process will bring our negotiations to a timely and positive resolution.”
“The current wage proposal clearly demonstrates the Board of Education and District’s unwavering commitment to maximizing compensation for our valued employees. It also underscores our collaborative commitment with our labor partners at the negotiation table, especially in light of current fiscal challenges,” said Board of Education Vice President Ingrid Gunnell. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to working in good faith throughout the next steps of this process in support of all GUSD educators and students.”
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