The St. Bernard Parish School Board has negotiated a new 4-year labor agreement with its employee representative, the St. Bernard Association of Educators. The two groups have been in negotiations since June but the process was a quiet one.
“We have had a contract with our teachers and support workers since 1988. After 23 years of living under and revising the contract, there are very few items that need to be discussed at length as we rewrite contracts for the future. We have a very amicable relationship with our union leaders, and they have a trust level with the Board which makes the process an easier one. I think the group, as a whole, understands that we value our employees,” said Superintendent of Schools Doris Voitier.
This contract gives teachers a $1000 pay raise and support employees a $500 pay raise. It also adds to the supplements paid to coaches and bus drivers. “All around us, school districts are struggling financially, laying off employees, and suffering through cutbacks. Financial concerns are impacting us as well. However, we are confident that we have the funding to honor this additional commitment for the next four years and that we will not have to impact services in order to do so,” Voitier said.
Judy McShan, president of the St. Bernard Association of Educators, told the Board at its meeting on August 9th that 100% of the employees voted to ratify the new contract at their ratification meeting on August 8th. The Board also approved the new agreement unanimously. The new contract became effective August 10th and expires on June 30, 2015.
Teachers in St. Bernard have received $7000 in pay raises from the local school district since the storm yet remain among the lowest paid in the metropolitan area.
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