After 10 hours in mediation, the Teachers Association of Long Beach and the Long Beach Unified School District reached a tentative agreement March 3.
The contract, which protects health benefits from cuts and cost shifts sought by the district, came after months of rancor that culminated in a rally outside a school board meeting. More than 1,400 teachers showed up to support chapter leaders who were inside urging the board to bargain a settlement that would protect benefits.
TALB members had made health care a priority over the years and viewed maintaining a quality plan as worth significant trade-offs in salary. The district's sudden hard-line attitude toward health cuts mobilized the chapter. Many community members came to their support, posting signs in their yards saying "We Support Long Beach Teachers" and contacting board members on their behalf.
Under the terms of the agreement, members can keep their current health plans, and two additional providers will be added. There were no other major changes in benefits except a slight increase in prescription co-payments and deductibles. Comparing the final settlement to earlier district proposals, which would have eliminated providers and dramatically increased prescription costs, TALB's board of directors unanimously recommended that members ratify the contract. Ballots were still being counted at press time.
"Health care is obviously one of the big issues workers are facing these days, and teachers are no exception," says TALB President Tony Diaz. "The bargaining team did a magnificent job, and the member support at the rally as well as the support of the community really made a difference."
When parents started calling board members, and the board saw that TALB members were staying united, "we finally saw some real movement at the table."
Diaz believes the settlement is good for both sides. "Given the ongoing state budget problems, I'm pleased we ended up with a fair settlement that protects our members and makes reasonable changes to benefits, but still maintains a high-quality plan and protects district solvency."
Frank Wells