Chittenango Teachers’ Association
Overwhelmingly Approves Salary Concession!
The Chittenango Teachers’ Association (CTA) bargaining unit members were slated to receive a 3% salary increase in the 2012-2013 school year. On Monday, March 19, 2012, the CTA voted 138-11 to approve deferring a 3% pay raise over the next three years. They have extended the current bargaining unit contract through June 30, 2015. Instead of receiving a 3% pay increase in 2012-2013, they will now receive a 1% increase in 2012-2013, 1% in 2013–2014 and 1% in 2014–2015; this equates to a $220,000 savings for the district in the 2012-2013 school year. That savings alone will safeguard 4.3 teaching positions next year.
Discussions regarding the serious financial crisis looming for the 2012-2013 school year began in early January 2012 between the CTA and the administration. Much of the discussion centered on ways to work together to close a $971,111 budget gap. Andy Voigt, CTA president, proposed asking his bargaining unit to agree to a concession. The agreed upon concession was a deferment of a slated 3% pay increase over three years. Upon careful consideration, the Chittenango Central Schools Board of Education accepted the proposed concession. They felt strongly that this was a win-win situation for our students and the school community.
This is a prime example of employees being part of the solution during challenging financial times. The collaboration between the CTA, the administration and the Board of Education shows a strong willingness to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers, while doing what is best for Chittenango Central Schools’ students.
