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Boston Teachers Union

Professionalism, Experience, Commitment, Teamwork Local 66, AFT Massachusetts, AFL-CIO

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49 Years of Contractual Gains

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49 Years of Contractual Gains

We have come a long way in more than 49 years. Below you’ll see an extensive list of benefits accrued over the course of our collective bargaining history. We have done well. Years of accumulated collective bargaining gains have given us a benefit package we can be proud of. But these gains did not come overnight, and they did not come without a lot of hard work — hard work done by our membership over years of bargaining and years of collective action.

Members entering our ranks today are the welcomed beneficiaries of the struggles of their predecessors. As we welcome new members, we should also explain to them how our gains were accomplished. It has taken a lot of hard work by our membership, many of whom have long since retired: four strikes, dozens of rallies, many hours of picketing, and countless demonstrations. All worth it. Here’s how we have improved our working conditions and benefit package:

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TEACHERS
1965

Teachers Elect BTU as Exclusive Bargaining Agent
1966

Pilot Program for Duty-Free Lunch
Grievance Procedure established
1967

One Personal Day granted
Duty-Free Lunch extended to 30 Elementary Schools 
1968

Duty-Free Lunch extended to 72 Elementary Schools
Health and Welfare Fund established at $50 per member 
1970

Duty-Free Lunch extended to ALL Elementary Schools
Health and Welfare Fund established at $100 per member
Severance Pay established
Career Awards established 
1971

Provisionals placed on Group I Salary Schedule
Personal Days increased to two
1972

BA+15, MA+15, MA+45 lanes Established
1974

Binding Arbitration established
1975

Child Care Leave established
Nurses move to Teacher Salary lane, obtain Health and Welfare coverage & get improved sick leave
Grievance timelines reduced
1976

BTU Health and Welfare Fund establishes Dental Plan
1977

BTU Health and Welfare establishes Eye Care Plan
1981

BTU Health and Welfare establishes Legal Plan
1983

Class size (K-3) reduced from 33 to 28
1986

Class size (K-3) reduced from 28 to 25,
Grades 4-5 from 33 to 28,
Grades 6-8 from 33 to 30, and
Grades 9-12 from 36 to 33
Third personal day added
1986-1988

Beginning three salary steps dropped; new teachers enter at higher steps
1987

14th Year Career Award established
Elementary teachers obtain two weekly P&D’s
1988

14th Year Career Award Increased
Elementary teachers obtain three weekly P&D’s
Mentor Teacher Program established
1991

Elementary teachers obtain four P&D’s
1992

Job-Sharing Program negotiated, with full benefits for job-sharers
1994

Lead Teacher Program established
1995

Elementary teachers obtain five P&D’s, one of which is administratively directed, every other week; now every week
1997

14th Year Career Award Increased
1999

MA+ 60 Established
Class Size in Grade 1 reduced from 28 to 25
Class Size in Grade 2 reduced from 28 to 25
2000

Additional 9th year Salary Step added
Secondary Duty-free lunch, secondary level, increased to 25 minutes from 20 minutes
Paid Leave for Adoption, up to 30 paid days in each school year, started
Paid leave for family illness goes to 30 days from 15 days per year
Dependent Care Plan/Flexible Spending Plan established
Maximum Average Annual Caseloads instituted: Speech/Language at 43; OT at 34; PT at 32
System-wide ratio of nurses decreased from 800/1  to 750/1
Guidance Counselor ratio implemented: HS at 300/1; MS at 400/1; and Bilingual at 250/1
2001

Class Size reduced: K-2 from 25 to 23; Grades 4-5 from 28 to 27; Grades 6-8 from 30 to 29;
Grades 9-12 from 33 to 32
2002

Class size reduced: K-2 from 23 to 22; Grades 4-5 from 27 to 25; Graades 6-8 from 29 to 28;
Grades 9-12 from 32 to 31
Master’s 60 Salary Lane & Doctorate Lane both “pushed” out to full lane at mid-year
2003

Fourth personal day added
Speech and Language, OT, PT, now get individual caseload maxima for the first time
System-wide ratio of nurses decreased from 750/1 to 700/1
Paid adoption leave now up to 40 days per school year
Those with a JD Degree advance one additional salary lane from where they were
Swimming instructors get full salary lane credit for academic credentials
Those certified under National Board for Professional Teaching Standards get a 4% differential
Career Awards* Increased

    • After 14 years: From $1,000 to $1,600
    • After 19 years: From $1,500 to $2,000
    • After 24 years: From $1,500 to $2,200
    • After 29 years: From $2,000 to $3,200
    • After 34 Years: From $2,000 to $3,700
    • After 39 Years: From $2,500 to $4,200
  • After 44 years: From $2,500 to $4,700
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PARAPROFESSIONALS
1975 Achieved sick days (one a month);
two personal days a year;
70% payment health insurance;
leave of absence (family death three days)
1976-1978 Leave for study;
Salary lanes for college credits
1980-1983 Sick Leave twelve days (up front); two personal days
1983-1986 Health & Welfare Benefits: Eye Care Plan – Medic Alert – Dental Plan
Health insurance 75%; posting of vacancies; teacher vacancies (paras given first consideration).
1986-1989 Health & Welfare (increase in benefits); funeral Expenses added;
Retroactive Hospitalization Plan; Career Awards (nine years $300);
Compliance Paras (made whole after 30 days); Sick leave, 15 days, two Personal Days.
1989-1992 Health & Welfare increase in benefits:
Orthodonture added to dental, Hearing aid, Sabbaticals, Severance Pay (40% for unused sick days), School Based Management, Career Awards for nine years, 14 years, & 19 years, Certified paras paid for substitute teaching
1993-1994 Salary: 3% retroactive to September; (10) Medical Paraprofessionals (assist nurses); Para excess pools – (9) nine days’ notice; Para vacancies shall be posted for transfer
1997-2000
 1997-98; 4% raise
1998-99: 4% raise
1999-2000: 4% raise
Health & Welfare: 3% each year; Career Award, 29 years: $500;
Salary Credit Para to Teacher; Substitute for teacher – 10 years experience;
Training Programs; Seniority resolved; Mediator.
2000-2003 2000-01: 4% raise plus additional $250 in each career award
2001-02: 4% raise plus additional $250 in each career award
2002-03: 4% raise plus additional $250 in each career award
Accumulation of In-service credits for salary purposes from 20-30
Paraprofessional Training increased from $35,000 to $50,000
Paraprofessional equity with teachers on religious holidays
2003-2006 2003-04: 2% raise plus additional $500 in each career award
2004-05: 2.5% raise plus additional $500 in each career award
September 1, 2005: 2% raise plus additional $500 in each career award
January 1, 2006: 1% salary increase
April 1, 2006: 1% salary increase
Ten minute break during the workday
Pay rate for substituting for teachers increased from $4.00 to $6.00 per hour in addition to regular salary
Effective September 1, 2005, up to 20 paraprofessionals who so elect shall be given an opportunity to job share
2006-2010 2006-07: Effective September 1, 2006 a 2% raise plus an additional $500 cash bonus for all paras
2007-08: Effective Spetember 1, 2007 a 3% raise; and effective February 1, 2008, $300 on base, prorated into hourly wage
2008-09: Effective September 1, 2008 a 3% raise; and effective February 1, 2009 a 1% raise
2009-10: Effective September 1, 2009 a 3% raise; and effective February 1, 2010 a 1% raise
Health and Welfare Contribution: An additional $150 on September 1, 2007 for all paras
Paras will have a new Bachelor’s Salary Lane added on September 1, 2007
Paras with 5+ years eligible for $500 yearly tuition reimbursement program.
There shall be a minimum of six Health Paras.
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SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
1981-1983 Substitutes were recognized by the Boston Teachers Union in 1981 and represented substitutes on assault cases before any contract ever existed.

First signed contract: May 1983 to December 1983. Per Diem $45 per day; Long Term Sub (LTS) $50 per day.  Long Term Sub only: health insurance at 75% paid.
1984 January 1, 1984 signed second contract through August 31, 1986.
Years 1985-86 Per Diem $56 per day; LTS $60 per day.
Assign 45 District Subs (new category). Health Insurance for Long Term Subs and District subs.
Grievance procedure.
1986-1989 Sick Leave for Long Term and District Subs.
Life Insurance Policy $2,000.
Per Diem $65.23; LTS $72.48; District $72.48. District Subs changed to Zone Subs.
1989-1992 Per Diem Subs $74.27 (year two); LTS $82.51, up to $149.49. District $82.98.
1991-1992 To be negotiated (salary): Subs to carry over sick leave upon becoming teachers under contract. All subs eligible for Professional Development.
1994-1997 Zone Subs changed to “Level Substitute.” LTS and Level Subs shall participate in Professional Days and be compensated
1994-95: 50 Level Subs. 1995-96: 60 Level and 1996-97: 70 Level Subs
Salary: 1996-97, second year Per Diem, $83.54; LTS $92,81 to $168.15; Level Subs $92.81
Life Insurance plan $5,000
1997-2000 Compensation, same as 1996-97: Per Diem $83.54; LTS $92.81 up to $168.15; Level Subs $92.81
No contract because the State Labor Relations Commission precluded the BTU from negotiating a contract for substitute teachers until it was determined which union would represent the bargaining unit.
2003-2006 Compensation (divide by 7 for hourly rate):

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DAILY SALARY 2003-04
(+2.0%)		 2004-05
(+2.5%)		 9/1-12/31/05
(+2.0%)		 1/1-3/31/06
(+1.0%)		 4/1-8/31/06
(+1.0%)
Per Diem 103.67 106.26 108.39 109.47 110.57

Long Term (after 10 days)

 115.33 118.21 120.58 121.78 123.00

Long Term (after 25 days)

 208.68 213.90 218.18 220.36 222.56
Cluster 126.21 129.37 131.96 133.28 134.61

Per Diem Annual Bonus: $1,000 after working at least 120 days by end of June as a per diem sub; and $1,500 after working at least 150 days as a per diem sub. If the bonus exceeds $100,000, it will be reduced so as not to exceed the $100,000 cap.

Long term pay increased after 25 days instead of 30.
2006-2010 Compensation:
September 1, 2006 2% salary increase
September 1, 2007 3% salary increase
September 9, 2008 3% salary increase
February 1, 2009 1% salary increase
September 1, 2009 3% salary increase
February 1, 2010 1% salary increase

Related Information

About Jessica Tang

Jessica Tang is the President of the Boston Teachers Union.

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