Columbus teachers union OKs new contract

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- More than 1,000 Columbus Education Association members voted to approve a new three-year contract Thursday at the Columbus Convention Center.

CEA spokesperson Regina Fuentes said teachers and staff voted overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement between the union and the Columbus City Schools Board of Education.

It’s a very different story from three years ago when the union decided to strike just as the school year was starting. Both sides are happy to avoid a strike this time around.

“It feels good to know that we can continue to negotiate and, you know, and to move forward and do what's best for our members,” Fuentes said.

The negotiation process this year lasted for months.

“We know that our board is very dysfunctional right now, and we have to continue moving forward and kind of move them on so that we can actually continue to grow,” Fuentes said.

A new contract is in place, but Fuentes said the CEA’s work is ongoing, especially following the approval of the most recent state budget.

In a special board meeting Wednesday night, the district’s treasurer revealed that Columbus City Schools needs to make $50 million in cuts. District leaders said this is partially due to cuts to public education funding in the Ohio budget.

“Any cuts to public education are devastating, and we definitely don't want that, so we are going to continue to fight moving forward to make sure that those cuts don't negatively affect our students,” Fuentes said.

The new contract between the school board and the teachers’ union includes a pay raise for the first year, and then wage talks will open back up for the second and third years of the agreement so members can negotiate for more salary increases.

“We know that this is not ideal. We know that not everybody is going to be happy with this. But we are trying to work with what we have,” Fuentes said.

CCS staff return to school on Monday, and students will be welcomed back the following week on Aug. 25, so the new contract comes just in time.

The agreement must now be ratified by the Columbus City School Board, which will meet on Tuesday.