I recommend they follow that approach for resolution of this matter. This somewhat larger benefit, which rewards long-term service, seems a more appropriate benefit than one that simply attaches with each year of service. This would be retroactive for those teachers who have already reached 15 years. The district asks for relief on health insurance. Health insurance costs continue to rise, and the district wants the teachers to pay a larger portion of the premium equivalent.
Teachers presently pay five percent of the health insurance premiums.
The district wants to raise this contribution in stages to 11 percent by the fourth year of the agreement. While change in this direction is warranted, this is too steep an increase in the teachers' contribution over the short remaining life of this contract. Teachers are being asked to absorb a substantially reduce salary increase during this contract, a reduction that hits senior teacher especially hard. With the recommended salary increase just barely keeping pace with inflation, it should not be further eroded by a significantly larger insurance premium contribution. Further, the parties recently completed a lengthy study of health insurance in which the association agreed to several substantial revisions in the program, an agreement that flowed from the resolution of a grievance.