THE ROAD TOWARD A WALKOUT

A chronology of key events leading up to Monday’s strike deadline: 1986 April--United Teachers-Los Angeles and Los Angeles Unified School District agree to a base contract through 1987-88 academic year. 1988 January--Negotiations begin for new contract. June 30--Existing contract expires. September--Union initiates boycott of unpaid, non-teaching duties. October--Union rejects district offer of three-year contract with 17.4% salary increase and extends boycott; district threatens to dock teachers’ pay. November--Mayor Bradley offers to mediate the dispute. December--First mediator-assisted bargaining session held. 1989 January--Union threatens to withhold first semester grades as part of boycott; district orders that teachers’ paychecks be held back. February--District makes new offer of 20% raise over three years, with promise of an additional 4% if more state funds become available. March--Union members authorize strike by nearly 9-1 margin. April--By 8-1 margin, union members vote to strike on May 30. May 2--District increases offer to 21.5% after state announces surplus tax revenues. Union immediately rejects it. May 8--Supt. Leonard Britton orders teachers to turn in final grade records early, by May 15. Union responds by moving up strike to May 15.