Alameda Teachers Approve New Contract

Alameda public school teachers have approved a new contract, according to a press release issued Thursday night by the Alameda Education Association (AEA). 

AEA members "overwhelmingly approved" the new contract providing their first raises in five years and protections against larger class sizes in grades K-3, the press release said. Teachers have been voting on the contract since Monday.

The agreement must still be approved formally by the Alameda Unified School District board of education.

According to the AEA, highlights of the contract include:

• Compensation that totals a 4.5 percent salary increase over two years and the potential for more in 2014-15. A total of 2.5 percent of the raise for this school year will be retroactive to July 1, 2012. If the school board determines the district can provide an additional 1.75 percent raise, it will kick in for the 2014-15 school year. If not, salary negotiations will reopen. 

• Approved school year calendars through 2015-16. 

• Maintaining a ratio of 25 students per teacher in grades K-3 grades for the life of the Measure A parcel tax. 

Negotiators for the district and the AEA reached tentative agreement on the new contract on Feb. 28, with Assemblymember Rob Bonta helping to mediate the settlement.

“Alameda's teachers worked tirelessly over the last 10 months and 24 negotiation sessions and we have finally come to a fair agreement with the district,"  said Gray Harris, president of the 524-member AEA.

"I want to thank the AEA negotiating team and the school board for their perseverance in reaching a settlement."