Educators are now really feeling the pinch!
From John Curry, June 7, 2010
Next on recession's hit list: teacher salaries
Union members forgoing raises, cost-of-living increases
Union members forgoing raises, cost-of-living increases
Columbus Dispatch, June 7, 2010
By Charlie Boss
By Charlie Boss
Teachers and other school employees have felt the impact of a dismal economy. Jobs have gone unfilled, class sizes have expanded and there's no money for training and supplies.
But after years of tightening their belts, school districts now are reaching into the bulk of their expenses - salaries and benefits - to curb costs. Across the state and nation, more school boards and unions are settling on one- to two-year contracts with cost-of-living increases from zero to 1.5 percent, officials say.
"We've hit the point in the recession where, basically, most states are in the third year," said Michael Griffith, finance expert with the Education Commission of the States, based in Denver.
"In the first year, school districts have cut on the edges," he said. "In year two, districts have made deep cuts but held teachers harmless. Now, in year three, the only thing left is teacher salaries."
Last month, teachers unions in the Gahanna-Jefferson and Pickerington districts agreed to extend contracts through the 2010-11 school year with no increases to base salaries. (Teachers will still get step increases, which are awarded for experience and level of education.)
Dublin board members recently OK'd a three-year pact with the Dublin Educators' Association with raises ranging from 1 percent to 1.5 percent. The previous contract with the teachers union lasted for two years and included 3 percent raises in both years.
Also:
• In January, Reynoldsburg's two employee unions accepted a freeze on raises and step increases next school year.
• Last year, Worthington teachers agreed to freeze base salaries in the 2011-12 school year.
• In March, Columbus City Schools' nonteaching employees negotiated 1.7percent and 1.85 percent raises in a new two-year contract that has them taking more risk on their health-care costs.
Ten of 16 Franklin County school districts have union pacts expiring this year. Talks have started in the Bexley, Canal Winchester, Dublin, Groveport-Madison, Hamilton, South-Western and Westerville districts.
"It's just a sign of the times," Hilliard Treasurer Brian Wilson said. "All the districts are facing financial difficulties and are looking at what their communities can afford. That will certainly be an issue for us, as well."
Contracts for Hilliard's two employee unions are up Dec. 31.
The financial challenges have led to contract disputes in some districts.
Cleveland teachers protested last month over the lack of progress on a new contract. The school board decided to lay off about 800 employees, including 546 teachers, to help stave off a $53 million deficit. District leaders said teachers can limit job losses by agreeing to concessions, such as wage cuts, but the union has refused.
It's foreshadowing for what's to come in Ohio as districts and unions get deeper into negotiations, said Van Keating, who oversees policy and labor work for districts at the Ohio School Boards Association.
"You aren't going to see any seriousness of the struggle now," he said. "Where that is going to come into play is the start of the school year."
He said school leaders are aware of contract settlements elsewhere, especially when unions forgo raises.
Giving up a cost-of-living raise is not something educators take lightly, said Carla Fultz, president of the Pickerington Education Association.
"We call the zero the gift that keeps on giving," she said. "You don't get the percentage we lost back. In better economic times, we would have gotten a 2 or 3percent raise. The next time you negotiate, you're not going to get 6 percent."
She said this is the third time the union agreed to forgo cost-of-living raises in the 18 years she's been in the district.
Pickerington board members are trying to decide how much money to seek in a November levy request. Adding to the uncertainty is a projected $3.4 million drop in state funding for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years because of the loss of federal stimulus money.
"It's very easy to see the handwriting on the wall and the difficulty the district is in," Fultz said. "It's really clear to us that now is not an appropriate time to ask for anything."
posted by Kathie Bracy at 7:36 AM
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