New UEA agreement is part of $25 million in savings from recent UCS contracts

The Utica Board of Education has approved a one-year agreement with its teachers’ association that includes the second year of concessions from the District’s largest bargaining group.

The agreement with the approximately 1600-member Utica Education Association is part of more than $25.1 million in overall savings realized through recent UCS contracts.

“Our employees continue to make sacrifices to address the financial realities that are facing our schools,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “The commitment of our employees has helped to protect our core academic programs and the financial future of our schools.”

Over the past two years, district teachers, clerical, administration, transportation, custodial, skilled trades and non-affiliated employees have agreed to concessionary contracts.

With the new UEA agreement, UCS teachers will be contributing 20 percent toward the cost of health care premiums. Combined with an agreement reached last year with the District, UCS teachers have agreed to nearly $9.2 million in concessions.

In approving the UEA contract on June 27, the Board of Education acknowledged UCS employee contributions to address the current Michigan school funding crisis.

“Our employees should be recognized for what they have done to keep our district financially stable,” said Board President Dr. Carol Klenow.

In total, changes in UCS employee agreements have saved $25.1 million during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years. All employees covered through the contracts are either contributing 20 percent toward their health care premiums or have agreed to plan redesigns that realize the same level of savings.

In addition to the UEA contract, other recent changes for UCS employees include:

• Transportation employees agreed to a wage freeze and a significantly reduced benefit package for an overall savings of $3.8 million in the 2011-2012 school year.
• District administrators have agreed to a wage and step freeze and furlough days to save the District $1.5 million over a two-year period.
• Custodial employees are in the second year of an agreement that has provided $8 million in savings to the district.
• A restructuring of technology support has saved $1.8 million over a two year period.
• Other employee groups have agreed to benefit changes, wage freezes and furlough days that amount to $800,000 over a two-year period.