www.rutlandherald.com
Published June 29, 2016 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield teachers get 2.3 percent raise
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield teachers will be getting a 2.3 percent pay increase as of Friday, which is the start of the new fiscal year.
The Springfield School Board recently concluded contract talks with the 132-member teachers union.
Superintendent of Schools Zachary McLaughlin said that the two sides decided to settle on a one-year contract because of the uncertainty over increases in health care costs in the next couple of years.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin and Finance Director Steven Hier said that contract talks with the 108-member support staff union are ongoing.
The School Board met behind closed doors Monday night, and the subject was negotiations. McLaughlin said the formal signing of the new contract would be completed in the next couple of days.
There were no other major changes in the contract, Hier and McLaughlin said, with some “minor” language revisions dealing with health insurance co-pay amounts for part-time employees.
Hier said the co-pay is adjusted according to “how part-time you are.”
In addition, a lot of contract language dealing with dates and deadlines was changed, he said.
Previously, the support staff had a three-year contract, while the teaching staff had a two-year agreement, Hier said.
The teachers received 1.7 percent wage increases in the first year of the last contract, and 2.1 percent in the second year, McLaughlin said.
“Both sides have signed off on it,” he said of the new contract.
McLaughlin said that the School Board had endorsed the new contract about two weeks ago after the last regular school board meeting.
According to the unapproved minutes of the meeting, voting in favor of the contract were Chairman Ed Caron and Board member Mike Griffin. Board member Steve Karaffa abstained.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160629/NEWS02/160629512
Brace yourselves for 'must be nice not to work in the summer' comments.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the total increase when the 2.3 percent is added to their annual step increase?
ReplyDeleteConsidering the CPI rose about 2.2% in the last year our teachers get to pocket an additional .1% for the last year of service, while shouldering 4 to 8 years of college debt because the federal government requires it to be a public school teacher (no child left behind). Of course retirees got a bigger shaft and got no COLA for this year because the federal government can't get their act together. Neither political party works for the interests of "We The People" anymore and simply oppose each other on just about everything.
ReplyDeleteAnd that money will come from? You guessed it! Dig deeper taxpayers. Give more of what you have and/or earn.
ReplyDeleteIt is probably regarded as a COL cover. Reasonable. I don't expect the SSA to do the same for me.
ReplyDelete