Quote of the Day
August 11, 2010NJEA Flunks Accuracy Test
August 12, 2010Teacher Salary Settlements Drop
New Jersey School Boards Association is reporting that recent teacher contract settlements have dropped sharply since January, with annual salary increases averaging 2.03% since January and 1.58% from April to June.
The latter figure includes, according to the press release,
23 districts where teachers have agreed to a wage freeze for the 2010-2011 school year. Overall, since January, 42 teachers’ groups have agreed to a one-year pay freeze for the 2010-2011 school year, and an additional 43 districts have agreed to other givebacks and concessions.
So, about 7% of our 591 NJEA bargaining units have agreed to one-year pay freezes. Eighty percent of contracts are currently either in negotiation or at an impasse. Last, best offer, anyone? Legal fees for protracted negotiations would make any taxpayer swoon.