2023-2024 OCPS Health Insurance Proposal Chart
February 22, 2024 Press Release - District Rejects Magistrate's Recommendations
Bargaining Update February 5, 2024
Click here for Magistrate's recommendations.
BARGAINING UPDATE DECEMBER 11, 2023
WE’VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS, BUT THE DISTRICT IS STILL TRYING TO HOLD UP SALARY INCREASES.
The District declared impasse in August after refusing to provide any wage increases without also forcing an average 64% increase to teachers’ health insurance premiums. The District’s declaration of impasse delayed an agreement on wages and instead set in motion a formal process that makes it so teachers will not see their raises until later in the school year.
The impasse hearing before the Magistrate took place Nov. 28/29 and now both sides must put their arguments in writing, and we expect a recommendation from the Magistrate near the end of January 2024. If either party rejects the Magistrate’s recommendation, then the School Board will hold a public hearing and decide the disputed issues. The agreement will then be put to the members for a ratification vote. If the agreement is not ratified by the members, then the Board’s decision on disputed issues is imposed.
WHAT’S ON THE TABLE? The main issues at impasse: salary and health insurance.
Salary
This school year we have already won percentage-based increases to salary after many years of fighting for it, thanks to the advocacy of our union.
What remains at issue is the amount of the salary increase, as follows:
Additional amounts for the Retention Supplement are also at issue. However, all eligible teachers will still be receiving the original Retention Supplement amounts on January 17th and any additional amounts would be distributed at a later date.
Health Insurance
While we are now close on salary, we are far apart on health insurance. CTA has proposed no changes to health insurance based on a previous agreement wherein the District had promised not to increase insurance rates during this contract.
The District has nevertheless attempted to ram through an average increase to health insurance contributions of 64% to take effect in October 2024 (for context, the 2023 national average premium increase was only 7%).
For some, the increases are larger than others. Here are some of the details:
Annual Contributions to Health Insurance by Plan and Coverage Tier
CTA CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR OUR MEMBERS. YOU DESERVE A SALARY YOU CAN LIVE ON AND HEALTH INSURANCE THAT RESPECTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
#STRONGERTOGETHER
