Members of the Collinsville Unit 10 teacher’s union will decide Wednesday afternoon if they will accept the latest contract offer from the School Board.
The Collinsville Education Association rejected the first offer by a 167–86 vote on August 7, according to the CEA website. The negotiations update for union members indicated that the salary raise increase was “quite acceptable,” but the cap on Teacher Retirement System contributions scuttled the deal.
Photo by Roger Starkey
Neither CEA Co-President Kevin Robinson nor Unit 10 Superintendent Bob Green would comment on the specifics of the negotiations. Green said he hoped the two sides were very close to finalizing a deal.
If the members accept the contract, the School Board cannot ratify it until their next scheduled meeting on Sept. 23, unless a special meeting is called for ratification. If the board’s offer is rejected, members will vote on what action will be taken next, Robinson said, but it is likely another meeting with the School Board would be requested.
The current contract between the union and the district expired on June 30. Negotiation on a new one-year contract began in early June. The two sides have operated under one-year labor agreements for the past three years. Green said the short deals are the result of the State of Illinois’ financial woes.
“It’s not an ideal situation, unless you love to negotiate,” Green said.
