New Haven teachers voted to approve a pay freeze for this year in exchange for three years of relief from layoffs, involuntary transfers and rising medical costs.
This is the result of a vote that took place electronically this week. New Haven Federation of Teachers President David Cicarella finalized the vote count on Saturday morning.
“The tentative agreement passed overwhelmingly,” Cicarella said.
Around 80 percent of those who voted cast their ballots in favor of the proposal. The final count was 970 union members for the proposal and 246 against.
The union has around roughtly 1,600 to 1,700 members. The week marked the highest turnout in the 20-year collective memories of union leadership, according to Cicarella. He said that contract votes usually attract 600 to 800 voters.
Contract votes usually happen in person. With the Covid-19 pandemic, the union could not gather hundreds of teachers in person and decided to vote through an electronic service this year.
The contract is not binding unless the Board of Education votes to approve it. That vote is scheduled to take place on Monday evening.
While taking a pay freeze this year, teachers would get raises and promotions in the following two years. Read more about the tradeoffs and teacher perspectives on the tentative agreement here.