EL Teachers Ratify "Less Than Ideal" Contract

Following the longest teacher contract negotiation on record in East Lansing, the East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS) Board of Education and Michigan Education Association (MEA) have officially ratified an agreement. 

ELPS Superintendent Robyne Thompson addressed the East Lansing community in a letter dated December 18, 2014, indicating she and East Lansing Education Association (ELEA) President Pat Murray had signed a “tentative” contract, which she anticipated would be ratified by a vote in the future.  

Thompson stated, “We have great teachers here in East Lansing, and I know this has been a difficult process.  I look forward to expanding opportunities for dialogue in the coming year, and working collaboratively to problem solve.” Thompson also cited issues at the state legislative level which have negatively affected the ELPS budget, and said, “It is my hope and belief that together, we can overcome anything….I look forward to working with teachers, parents, and the community to ensure that we can continue to provide our children with a world class education.”

Members of the teachers’ union were given the opportunity to cast their vote on the agreement between Tuesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 8.  Votes were counted on the evening of January 8, 2015, revealing 95 teachers voted “yes” for ratification, and 65 teachers voted “no” for the contract that expires June 30, 2016. 

Included in the contract, officially ratified January 12, 2015, was a one-time bonus of $435 for full-time employees following ratification.  The agreement does not include compensation increases for the current 2014-2015 school year, as many teachers had hoped.  “Lane increases” for teachers earning their Masters are available for the duration of the two-year contract, affecting a handful of ELPS employees.  For the 2015-2016 school year, a wage “re-opener” indicates step increases are again subject to bargaining, as well as the school calendar. 

If no agreement on these items is reached by June 2016, a 1% increase will be placed on the salary schedule for the following year.  Teachers are not eligible for retroactive pay, according to this contract and previously contracts.  Teachers are responsible for 20% of medical health insurance costs, while the ELPS Board provides life insurance of $50,000 without cost to employees.

ELPS teacher Tim Akers commented, “Yes, we ratified [the agreement], but we were in a position where we were hurting too much.  This is less than ideal, especially in regard to younger teachers.”

Akers did indicate he was pleased about the Letter of Agreement included in the contract, which calls for two ELEA members to meet regularly with ELPS Finance Director Richard Pugh to go over the budget in detail and hopefully make recommendations in the future.

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