Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1497353
SCOTTS VALLEY: Prep time, healthcare among wins Members of Scotts Valley Education Association (SVEA) won a new con- tract in March that includes a salary increase that will allow more educators to live where they teach, helping to end ongoing turnover issues. The agree- ment also includes additional prep time, healthcare benefit increases and family-friendly practices. SVEA Co-President Cheryl Ruyle said the contract "focuses on every- thing critical for students to succeed in the classroom, without having a rotat- ing door of educators." " The wins we bargained for are a true testament to how much we care about the students we teach," Ruyle said. " They deserve nothing but the best, and I am proud we were able to accomplish this and so much more." Highlights include: Retroactive to July 1, 2022: • An average raise of 15.76 percent. • Expansion of bereavement language to include miscarriage and stillbirth. Beginning 2023-2024: • A change in benefit language that improves clarity and self-advocacy, while protecting members from spikes in healthcare increases. • Maintaining one of the most competitive healthcare benefit packages in Santa Cruz County. • Adjustments to the evaluation pro- cess to simplify and streamline. • Pilot language to secure fourth/fifth grade prep time for educators. SALINAS: Historic resources to attract and retain educators In March, members of Salinas Elementary Teachers' Council (SETC) organized and won historic resources to attract and retain quality educators, including a 13 percent pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2022. "What we achieved will help attract and retain quality educators, and ensure our students have access to the best resources with dedicated edu- cators and diverse experiences," SETC President Pamela Conner said. Other highlights of the new contract include: • Additional assignment rate of pay: Increase of 19 percent for a total of $55 per hour. • Student support time: Changes in hours to allow student support educa- tors more time for additional student intervention support. • Restructured salary schedule for preschool educators resulting in an average raise of 17 percent. PORTOLA VALLEY: Equitable Pay System The small but mighty Portola Valley Teachers Association (PV TA) organized over the past six months and won, successfully moving from a divisive pay sys- tem to a more equitable salary schedule, like most school dis- tricts statewide. PV TA was able to reach agreement to jettison the outdated salary system, which was dependent on an arbitrary evaluation process. PV TA members had monthly actions, including twice a month board meeting rallies, to support their bargaining team and adopt a traditional salary schedule. Their efforts took PV TA from the lowest paid educators in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties to the second highest. PV TA fought off numerous threats of impasse and intimidation from man- agement to win a $2,000 off-schedule payment, an average 20 percent raise for 2022-23, and a 7.36 percent pay increase and salary reopener for 2023- 24. They also won increases to the health care benefits. 41 A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 3