The new contract was based on recommendations by a state-appointed fact finder
LAWRENCE -- The Lawrence school board and teachers have approved a new contract that calls for raises of up to 2.7 percent and maintains the same level of employee contributions to health coverage.
The Lawrence Township Education Association, the 560-plus-member union that represents teachers, custodians, maintenance staff and secretaries, among others, ratified the new three-year contract on Nov. 11 and the school board approved it Nov. 23.
The new contract was based on recommendations by a state-appointed fact finder after the teachers and school district reached an impasse.
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2015/08/lawrence_teachers_to_picket_over_lack_of_contract.html
The agreement, which will expire June 30, 2017, offers a retroactive 2.6 percent raise for last school year, a 2.65 percent raise for this year and a 2.7 percent raise for next year.
It also increases extra duty pay stipends by 2 percent and maintains the Tier 4-level contributions of the 2011 Chapter 78 pension reform law.
An employee earning less than $25,000 pays 3 to 5.5 percent of the premium, an employee earning $50,000 pays 12 to 20 percent of the premium and an employee earning $75,000 or more pays 23 to 35 percent of the premium, district officials said.
The next steps to finalizing the contract include revising the salary guide and calculating and paying retroactive pay, the district said.
"This contract is fair to teachers, students and taxpayers," said Laura Waters, who chaired the board's negotiations committee. "We're pleased to have this conflict resolved so we can return our focus to giving all students in Lawrence a great education."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
