October 4, 2012
LABOR CONTRACTS SETTLED
In a joint statement, the Avon Board of Education and Avon Education Association, (AEA), the local Connecticut Education Association affiliate representing Avon Public Schools teachers and other certified staff, have announced that a successor agreement has been achieved for the time period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016.
This contract was settled through the mediation process and received a unanimous vote (8-0-0) by the Board of Education at its special meeting held this morning. William Stokesbury, Chair of the Board of Education’s Personnel Subcommittee, stated on behalf of the Subcommittee and the entire Board, “We worked hard to reach a reasonable agreement with the AEA within the framework of the Teacher Negotiations Act (http://www.avon.k12.ct.us/backpack/Summary_of_Collective_Bargaining_in_Public_Schools.pdf).”
Steve Muench, President of the Avon Education Association stated that “Both the Association negotiations team and the Board of Education Personnel Subcommittee worked cooperatively to achieve a fair settlement that meets the interests of both the teachers and other certified staff as well as the Board acting as representatives of the general public.”
The mediated agreement calls for a general wage increase of 2 percent in each year of the contract with the same percentages being applied to stipend payments for athletic and non-athletic co-curricular positions. Small increases were also agreed upon to stipend payments made to mentor teachers that are required by state certification regulations.
Other details of the mediated agreement include increases in the employee cost share for health benefits from 18 to 20 percent, increases in prescription medication co-pays for preferred brands from $20 to $25 and non-preferred brands from $35 to $45, increases in hospital admission co-pays from $200 to $250 and office visits for $20 to $25.
The Board of Education also has announced reaching an agreement with the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-270, the labor association representing custodial and maintenance workers employed in the Avon Public Schools. The agreement covers the time period July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015 and was approved by a unanimous vote (9-0-0) of the Board.
Similar to the agreement achieved with the certified staff, the agreement calls for a general wage increase of 2 percent in each year of the contract, increases in the employee cost share for health benefits up to 18 percent and increases in the co-pays for prescription medications. Employees covered by this agreement and hired after July 1, 2012 will not participate in the Town defined benefit (pension) plan.
Lastly, the Board has reached an agreement with its School Nurses by agreeing to a contract for the time period from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015 that calls for a general wage increase of 2 percent in each year of the contract, increases to the employee cost share for health benefits from 18 to 20 percent and increases to the co-pays for prescription medications. As with the custodial maintenance workers’ contract, nurses hired after July 1, 2012 will not participate in the Town defined benefit (pension) plan.
Full texts of all revised contracts will be available for review on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at www.avon.k12.ct.us under the Human Resources link.
Contact:
Peggy Roell, Chair, Avon Board of Education - (860) 614-1215
Steven Muench, President, Avon Education Association - (860) 404-4770
John Puffer, President and Lead Negotiator, NAGE - (860) 404-4740
Patricia DeRossi, Coordinating Nurse - (860) 404-4790
