The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) reports “big changes” in recently negotiated teacher and school administrator contracts due to the economic situation. CABE’s data covers 68 of 74 teacher and 34 of 39 administrator contracts negotiated in 2009-10. In these contracts, average across-the-board wage increases for 2010-11 are 0.46% for teachers and 0.82% for administrators. If step increases for those not at the top of the pay scale are included, average increases are 0.77% for teachers and 0.75% for administrators.
According to CABE, many new contracts also include such measures as furlough days and shorter school years, no step increases in the first year of new contracts, increased employee contributions for health insurance, and contract extensions to cover costs. Of the 102 contracts included in CABE’s report, 13 went to binding arbitration. Of these, arbitrators decided nine and the remaining four were settled by stipulated awards. Please see OLR Report 2010-R-0244 for information about the number of issues arbitrators awarded to unions and school boards in binding arbitration over the last five years. CABE’s Settlement Update (June 11, 2010) is available only to CABE members.
