Plainfield Teachers Union OKs New Contract

PLAINFIELD, IL — After a year of negotiations and the threat of a strike, members of the Association of Plainfield Teachers on Wednesday voted to approve a five-year contract with District 202. About 58 percent of the union's members who voted were in favor of the deal, which offers a 5.56 percent average raise in its first year, according to a District 202 press release. The board of education still has to approve the pact, and is slated to vote at its Nov. 6 meeting.

Changes to the pay scale are retroactive to July 1, and the contract will run through June 30, 2022.

“This contract successfully addresses many of the needs of our membership including taking important steps to grow our staff with teachers who will make District 202 their destination,” APT President Dawn Bullock said in a joint statement issued by the district Wednesday night. "We appreciate the board’s willingness to strengthen District 202’s commitment to our membership."

The union represents roughly 1,900 classroom teachers and other certified staff.

The five-year contract offers the following raises, according to the district:

• Year 1 – 5.56%
• Year 2 – 3.25%
• Year 3 – 3.25% to 4.25%
• Year 4 – 3.25% to 4.25%
• Year 5 – 3.25% to 4.25%

According to District 202, the deal also:

• Adds money to the salary schedule every year
• Includes expanded retirement incentive to reward longevity
• Maintains traditional “lane/step” salary structure
• Bases future increases to the base of the salary schedule on CPI
• Re-indexes salary schedule for greater equity throughout membership

"On behalf of the Board of Education, we thank the APT membership and its leaders for their dedication to the process of negotiations and to providing the best possible service to our students and families," District 202 Board of Education President Greg Nichols said. "District 202 has some of the best educators in the business and we value their hard work."

The district said additional contract details will be released after final ratification by the board of education next week.

More from Patch

• Oct. 26: 'Tentative Agreement' Reached With Teachers: District 202
  
• Oct. 23: Plainfield Teachers 'Want To Be In School For Our Students, Not Out On The Picket Line': Union
  
• Oct. 19: Hundreds Pack Auditorium As District 202 Presents Latest Teacher Contract Offer
  
• Oct. 14: Plainfield Teachers Strike Could Start On Halloween

Image via APT