Bristol Borough tentative 4-year agreement

From the BCCT

Teachers union gets first look at tentative 4-year agreement
The Bristol Borough Education Association will decide next week if it wants to ratify the contract.
By JOAN HELLYER

Association members will receive annual pay raises ranging between 3 percent and 3.5 percent over the course of a fouryear contract, according to a source familiar with the tentative labor deal.

The higher salary costs will be offset in part by the employees’ increased contributions to their health care costs according to the agreement reached Tuesday, said the source, who asked not to be identified.

In addition, the bargaining unit also agreed to move to a less expensive health care plan, the source said. The added contributions and less expensive plan could save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars, the source said.

Michael Girard, the union spokesman, and John Hill, the school board’s chief negotiator, declined Thursday to confirm any specifics of the agreement.

Both said they did not want to discuss the contract’s details until the BBEA and the school board ratify the deal.

If approved, the new agreement will replace the current pact that expires Sunday.

BBEA represents an estimated 90 teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, and school nurses.

Union members had their first look at the tentative agreement Thursday afternoon during a meeting at Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School, Girard said.

They are scheduled to vote Sept. 2 on whether to ratify the deal, he said.

If the union approves the contract, the board will decide Sept. 4 whether it wants to ratify the labor agreement, Hill said.