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N.J. teachers' pay rises, but districts put pressure on benefits by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
N.J. teachers unions battling over health benefits
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Jersey teachers unions are still winning their members raises, but there are tough negotiations over benefits...
N.J. teachers' pay rises, but districts put pressure on benefits
by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
Tuesday September 15, 2009, 6:31 AM
New Jersey school districts are promising to pay teachers 4 percent more this year on average, but one-quarter of districts are starting the school year locked in negotiations as they put pressure on benefits, a report in the Record said.
State teachers have usually received expensive insurance plans, and only about one in 10 pay premiums for themselves or their families, according to the report. But unions are agreeing to higher premiums and copays, cheaper insurance plans and expanded time in the classroom because of tough economic times, the report said.
Dawn Hiltner, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Education Association, which represents 203,000 teachers, told the Record that keeping pay competitive is necessary to attract and maintain talented teachers.
Previous coverage:
• Teacher contracts in New Jersey reflect weak economy
• 12 percent of N.J. public school teachers pay premiums toward health insurance
• Morris Plains teachers get 12.6 percent raise under three-year contract
September 15, 2009
N.J. teachers unions battling over health benefits
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Jersey teachers unions are still winning their members raises, but there are tough negotiations over benefits.
The result is more school districts than usual have begun classes for the year with unsettled contracts.
The New Jersey School Boards Association says that about one-fourth of the state's nearly 600 districts are currently in negotiation. Usually, about one-fifth of districts don't have settlements.
The districts have agreed to pay raises averaging about 4 percent.
The heart of most negotiations is benefits. Most teachers don't pay any health premiums. Many school districts say they should start doing so.
