The Lucia Mar Unified School District’s teachers union ended a year of contentious negotiations and averted a potential strike by finally approving a two-year contract with the district the week of April 16.
The district struck a relieved tone in a press release, hailing the ratification as “welcome news” and congratulating the union “for bringing our lengthy negotiations process to a conclusion.”
More than 90 percent of the union voted; 59 percent opted to ratify the agreement, while 41 percent signaled their ongoing dissatisfaction with the district by voting no.
The ratification comes the week after a tentative agreement was reached following a long year of grappling between the district and the union over teacher salaries.
The deal will give teachers a 6 percent raise over two years. It’s a compromise between the union, which fought for a 10 percent raise, and the district, which offered 2 percent.
The agreement now needs to be vetted by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education for fiscal oversight approval. The Lucia Mar Board of Education will finalize the agreement with a vote at its May 5 meeting.