The Region : Move in School Pay Fight

A state-appointed mediator has called for an independent review in a long-running pay dispute between the Los Angeles school district and United Teachers-Los Angeles. A spokesman for the teachers’ union, which represents 32,000 teachers and counselors, said the lack of progress in negotiations over wages spurred a request to the state Public Employment Relations Board to assign a fact-finder to help resolve the dispute. The fact-finder can recommend terms for a settlement, but the recommendation is not binding. Union officials rejected the last formal offer of a 10% raise.