Alameda Teacher Contract Talks Stall

ALAMEDA, CA — Contract negotiations between Alameda teachers and counselors, and the school district have stalled. The teachers union, the Alameda Education Association (AEA), has asked the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) to declare an official impasse. The sticking point is salary increases, according to the district, which is offering a 5 percent salary hike for one year. The union is on board with the 5 percent offer, but wants guaranteed salary hikes over the next two years. The district says that demand will put them in the red.

In a release by Superintendent Sean McPhetridge and Board President Gray Harris, the district reports that AEA's offer would result in a $10 million budget deficit in 2020-21.

Over the last five years, teachers in AUSD have received 13.5 percent in raises, plus 2.25 percent in one time payments. While that's higher than the county average for teacher salary increases over the same time period, local teachers still earn less than the county average.

The district blames the lower salaries on high special education costs and low class sizes.

The Board has approved $3.5 million in budget cuts this year to offer raises to employees. "We have worked very hard over the last six months to find money in our budget for salary increases," says Superintendent Sean McPhetridge. "Staff, students, and families have made sacrifices, recognizing as we all do that employees deserve more. But ultimately we cannot make commitments that will jeopardize the district's financial stability."

If the state board declares an official impasse, both sides will meet with a mediator to hammer out a new contract. The process could take months.

"As we continue to follow the process for negotiations, we remain hopeful that we can come to agreement with our labor partners," says Board President Harris. "All of us agree that raising employee salaries is a priority."

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