Details of new BVA contract revealed
By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com
The new five-year contract approved Monday by the Belle Vernon Area School Board and its teachers union freezes wages in the first year and eliminates several bonuses that had been included in past contracts.
The new pact also holds the longevity “step” increases to the same level as past contracts, with the exception of the last four steps, which have been reduced, according to board president Joe Grata.
The board voted 5-3, with one abstention, in favor of the agreement, which expires June 30, 2024. Members of the Belle Vernon Area Education Association had worked a year without a contract as negotiations took place.
“Members will get scheduled raises as they progress through a 17-year seniority scale, but the raises will remain the same as agreed upon in 2015. Such a 10-year ‘step freeze’ is basically unheard of in teacher contracts negotiated across the state,” Grata said.
“Those at the top of the BVAEA seniority scale will receive raises of $500 a year in each of the next four years, compared to between $1,127 and $1,375 a year under the last contract, depending upon the year.”
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