CVTA to Vote to Ratify Teacher's Contract Agreement

THERMAL, CA - Members of the Coachella Valley Unified teachers' union were voting Monday on whether to ratify a tentative agreement with the school district that would secure pay raises and prevent the long-looming threat of a strike.

Coachella Valley Teachers Association members were participating in an online vote on the tentative agreement reached Dec. 9.

The agreement -- which would be retroactive to July 1, 2015, and remain in effect until June 30, 2018 -- includes a 19.85 percent salary increase that includes a one-time 3 percent bonus, two years of health coverage through the next school year, early-release Wednesdays and extra time after school for instruction and planning.

Teachers received their voting materials from the union via email, but were also told they could pick up physical materials from 2-5 p.m. Monday at the union's office in Coachella.

Should the teachers vote to accept the agreement, a ratification vote would also be needed from the Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.

The tentative agreement would end more than a year of stalled negotiations between the union and CVUSD, which in the gall appeared to be headed toward a teachers' strike after more than a year without a contract.

More than 250 teacher absences were logged at CVUSD schools in September, which CVTA President Richard Razo denied were "sickouts" in protest of the sluggish negotiations.

Teachers were also "working to rule," meaning they were not participating in any school activities outside of regular classroom hours.

– By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock