Clawson Teachers and District Ratify 3-Year Contract

Clawson teachers will contribute to their health insurance costs, as well as take pay freezes under a contract ratified by the Clawson Education Association (CEA) and the Board of Education.

Kevin Phillips, a music teacher for Clawson schools and CEA vice president, said 93 percent of teachers voted in favor of the three-year contract last Wednesday and Thursday.

Business Services Director Gary Jackson said the contract settlement will save the district $2.5 million during the contract period. 

The contract includes a step freeze at year two and a half step increase for year three. Under previous agreements teachers received a three percent step increase each year on average, Jackson said.

Teachers also have a zero percent compensation freeze during the the first year of the contract, as well as a minimum of zero percent and a maximum one percent increase in the second and third years. Jackson said this will be contingent on unrestricted revenues of the district.

The agreement requires teachers to pay 10 percent toward health insurance premiums and a $500-$1,000 deductible in concessions. Jackson said teachers will end up contributing  $2,000-$3,000 to their health insurance plans annually. In the past, teachers have not had to pay deductibles.

"In order to keep the district running, we have to give in a little bit on a couple spots to make it a little more healthy, financially," Phillips said. "It's pouring out there right now. Everybody is taking hits.”

Phillips said most teachers are pleased with the benefits package and were willing to make concessions to keep the district afloat. However, he said the deductibles may strain  the budgets of some teachers.

"This additional 10 percent payment and deductible is quite substantial considering the teachers here are one of the lowest paid in the county," Phillips said. "When we signed our mortgage papers with the banks, we did so in anticipation of making the same salary or higher because of the steps program."

Phillips and Jackson agreed that contract negotiations were a relatively smooth process for the union and district. The biggest contention, Phillips said, was agreeing to continue using MESSA as the district's health care provider. 

"I’ve had much more difficult negotiations," Jackson said. “I was satisfied.”

The terms of the contract go into effect on July 1. Jackson said the district has not yet decided if it will be able to call back any of the this year.