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Lo and behold! Guess who opposes the landmark agreement in disadvantaged schools in Los Angeles to stop teacher layoffs? It is none other than the local teachers union in LA. Last Tuesday, there was a settlement with the school board, public attorneys’ coalition and ACLU in LA that ended the layoff according to the LA Times and LA Daily News.

A few months back, the Unified School District in Los Angeles was accused by the group. The accusation was all about how the Unified School District refrained from providing constitutional rights to equal and fair education to students by resorting to teacher layoffs and massive budget cuts. As schools were already struggling under economic strain, this was unwarranted, they argued.

Some feel that Tuesday’s agreement that ended teacher layoffs in at least forty five schools in poverty stricken areas was ground breaking. The contention of the union according to A.J. Duffy, its president is that they were significantly left out of the settlement talks.

He went on to elaborate that they were intending to block the settlement as they were concerned about how schools could face ‘unintended consequences’. He said that they felt schools could resort to employing inexperienced and young teachers in disproportionate numbers.

It is funny how he keeps reiterating on how the policy was not alright and how it was hugely disturbing especially since the union was not involved in the process. He stressed on the fact that they were not consulted as they should have been. The trend today by the board majority and by the district is to hold debates and discussions by leaving teachers out.

Mark Rosenbaum, the attorney representing ALCU said that this was not true and that the teacher’s union actually staged a walkout during the talks, disputing Duffy’s claims. According to Mark Rosenbaum, the union decided to voluntarily boycott the negotiations. He went on to stress that the union was called by them repeatedly and asked to participate. Their absence could only be attributed to the fact that they walked out of the room and decided not to return back, he said.

According to the settlement, disproportionate number of teachers will not be sent out of any of the district schools as the proposed settlement, if approved by a judge will base the layoffs on the seniority of teachers. According to William Koski, the education law professor at the Stanford University, this agreement could have national ramifications.

Talking to the Times, he elaborated that this settlement provides access to constitutional rights of high poverty schools for employing quality teachers. He stressed that this is overall a good deal. The strong principle that poor kids must not be harmed in any manner is well established here, he said.

There is a strong commitment from Antonio Villaraigosa, the Mayor of LA that reform efforts will continue in full swing in spite of opposition by the union. He reassured that he will continue to reach out to the union as he prefers working with them and made a point that they are moving ahead either with or without the union’s cooperation.