The contract dispute between the L.A. Unified School District and United Teachers Los Angeles entered its final phase as the three-member fact-finding panel was finally seated last week. The panel now has 30 days to submit a nonbinding report of its recommendations, after which the district may impose its final offer and the union may strike.
There is no danger of the union striking before the holiday break. It has already informed its members that the strike will occur in January if no agreement is reached, though it has not settled on a specific date.