Trumbull's teachers will get an 8.5 percent increase but lose health insurance waivers between 2014 and 2017.
Under the three-year contract, the raises will be 2.7 percent in 2014-2105, 2.9 percent the next year and 2.9 percent the next year. Most of the raises are made up of step increases, School District Attorney Floyd Dugas said.
He added that 8.5 percent is below the state's average increase for teachers.
The health insurance waiver pays as much as $5,000 for a family if a teacher does not take town health insurance. It decreases as fewer people are involved. The waiver would fall by 50 percent in the first year and 25 percent each in the last two years.
In all, the district saves about $800,000 by eliminating the waiver, Dugas said.
Health insurance co-pays also increased, but also less than the state average, he added.
"It's a fair contract. That's what compromise is about," said Town Councilwoman Ann Marie Evangelista.
Council members Jeff Jenkins and Vicki Tesoro thanked the teachers for their service.
The Town Council approved the contract as arbitration award because it was agreed to after the end of the standard negotiation period. No arbitration was actually involved, Dugas said.
An arbitration would not produce a better contract, according to Dugas.
The Trumbull Education Association, led by Teacher Tammy Baillargeon, represents the teachers, who did not attend the Town Council meeting where the contract was approved.
But they were invited to attend after the last Board of Education meeting.
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