The dedicated educators of Lincoln Unified Teachers Association (LUTA) ratified a landmark contract Thursday that improves learning conditions for Lincoln students.

The three-year deal comes after 15 contentious months of negotiations, which saw the 480 members of LUTA mobilize and stand together for each other and the schools Lincoln students deserve. More than 77 percent turned out for the ratification, which was approved with a near-unanimous vote.

“This is the start of what we feel is creating the schools all Lincoln students deserve,” said LUTA President Tiffany Fuhrmeister. “We’re really excited!”

The contract includes major gains in all of LUTA’s priority areas, as well as a significant increase in wages and benefits.

The contract includes: 

• 3.9% on-schedule salary increase for 2017-2018;
• 3.5% on-schedule salary increase for 2018-2019;
• $2,200 annual increase in health benefits;
• Up to $2,100 per year in district-paid induction costs for new educators for 2018-19 & 2019-20;
• Music for Transitional Kindergarten;
• Restoration of Music instruction minutes for third grade in 2019-20 & 2020-21;
• Equitable classroom budgets;
• Comprehensive Kindergarten Plan.

Fuhrmeister said the victory wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of all LUTA educators to fighting side-by-side for each other, their students and the Lincoln Unified community.

“A teachers union is as only as strong as its members. We need to continue to know our worth, the worth of our students, and the worth of our profession,” Fuhrmeister said. “This is just the beginning of a new day at LUSD.”

#LUTAStrong