With a 95 percent approval rate, San Francisco educators and paraprofessionals have ratified their newly won contract settlement.
United Educators of San Francisco has negotiated an 8.5 percent raise over two years, retroactive to July 1, 2005.
The agreement followed a marathon 24-hour negotiating session and averted a threatened strike.
The union had not received a salary increase since 2002 and had been without a contract since July 2004. Over the past year, union members had become increasingly active in staging rallies and protests to achieve a fair contract. They took a strike vote in March.
The contract includes many of the items that teachers sought — safer schools, fair pay, and equal protection for all members. The board of education was expected to approve the agreement May 9.
"The 8.5 percent raise, paid within 11 months, is a recognition by this district that supporting the people who do the work in the classroom is a priority," says UESF President Dennis Kelly.
One of the school safety gains is working phones in every classroom.
"We're relieved to be able to focus our efforts in the classroom, and not the picket line," says kindergarten teacher Susan Solomon. "Many of the gains in this contract are bread and butter issues that will improve our ability to teach."