Tentative Pact with Berkeley Teachers Announced

The Berkeley Unified School District announced Thursday night that a tentative contract agreement has been reached with the Berkeley teachers union that includes a 2.5-percent pay raise effective July 1 last year and no cut in benefits.

The pact, which must still be ratified by the Berkeley Federation of Teachers and the school board, also provides that each member of the bargaining unit will receive a one-time bonus equal to 2.5 percent of his or her salary, the district said. This bonus will be on top of a 1-percent bonus negotiated with employees last year.

The district announcement included the statements below from key representatives in the process.

Co-Superintendent Javetta Cleveland said, "Our teachers are an integral part of our ability to move our vision forward to ensure that all students achieve at the highest level.  During the toughest economic times, we worked closely together to ensure that the District stayed solvent.  This agreement clearly demonstrates that we value our partnership.  We hope to successfully finalize negotiations with our other unions in the near future.”

Cathy Campbell, Berkeley Federation of Teachers President, said, “This agreement provides a small raise while keeping our District within its means and putting the needs of students front and center.  The agreement provides some relief to the hard working employees who serve our students and families every day.”

Board President Karen Hemphill said, “I am glad that we are in better economic times and are able to reach an agreement that shows our appreciation for the work that our teachers do every day to help our students succeed.”

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