Union Decries District's Denial of Teacher Raises

Union leaders protested Monday that the Los Angeles Unified School District has not dedicated funds for increases in salaries or medical benefits for teachers, clerical workers and other employees.

Day Higuchi, president of United Teachers-Los Angeles, said the district had spent too much money paying top administrators and buying real estate.

UTLA is seeking a 5% raise for its teachers.

Supt. Roy Romer and other district leaders have said that there is no money for teacher raises this year because of state budget cuts, rising costs of special education, disability payouts and legal costs.