Majority of FTA members vote to accept new contract with FUSD

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Fresno Teachers Association has finished counting the ballots on a vote to accept a new contract with the Valley's largest school district.

Action News has learned 85 percent of members who filled out ballots voted in favor of ratifying the new three-year contract with Fresno Unified. Over the last few days, about half of the union members either dropped off ballots at FTA headquarters or headed out to the Fresno Fairgrounds Friday morning. They voted on a total of 12 different articles.

"Our representative council has voted to recommend this to our membership as a yes vote," said FTA President Eva Ruiz.

Ruiz says the new deal could keep about 3,500 Fresno teachers, nurses and librarians from striking.

"This was originally to be an authorization strike vote," she said.

But after numerous demonstrations and months of negotiations, both sides finally agreed just last week on a tentative agreement.

"I counted on my calendar just the other day for fun and it's been 68 days as a team that we've met in the last 363 days," said FTA bargaining team member Hilary Levine. "We really feel that we got the best deal that we could possibly get in these times, and we're really excited about it going forward that we can work with the district."

If teachers approve it, they'll get a 2.7 percent retroactive pay raise for this last year. They'll also get a 3 1/2 percent increase starting next fall, with an option to reopen negotiations in the third year. But some say shared decision making, improved working conditions and better employer contributions to health benefits were among the biggest sticking points.

"When you start taking money away from your health care benefits it's very hard to get that back, so for us to get a $1,025 into that was absolutely huge," said Levine.

Action News cameras were rolling at FTA headquarters on Friday as the FTA Elections Committee carried in boxes stuffed with hundreds of ballots. Its election committee says more than 1,700 members turned out to vote, with only 259 voting against the contract. That means it's now up to the school board to vote on whether to ratify it. Action News has been told that vote will take place next Wednesday.