Tentative Agreement Reached in Contentious Teacher Talks

Contentious salary talks between the Birmingham school board and the district’s teachers’ union may soon be over.

A tentative agreement was announced Tuesday as about 200 union members from neighboring school districts joined the Birmingham Education Association in a protest to demand a contract, The Detroit News reports.

Stay Connected

• Sign up for the free daily Birmingham Patch newsletter and news alerts.
• Like Birmingham Patch on Facebook.
• If you have a news tip, email beth.dalbey@patch.com.

The protesters — who included union members from Warren Consolidated Schools, Bloomfield Hills, Berkley, Northville, Utica and Troy — chanted “We need a contract, we need a contract” and carried signs that read “Students are our top priority” and “Negotiate Now.”

The contract that ended June 30 started teachers’ beginning salaries at $41,043. Teachers with master’s degrees and 30 years’ experience top out at $88,482 a year.

Negotiations have been going on since April. A key issue has been raises for extra duties and extra staff days.

BEA President Scott Warrow said the two sides have reached “conceptual agreement” with the teachers’ demands, though some minor details still need to be worked out.

The BEA contract should be ratified by Oct. 20, but negotiations are ongoing for paraprofessionals and secretaries.