Carmen-Ainsworth of Flint, Michigan, Raise Approved for Teachers

After a year of negotiating and talking, the teachers union at Carmen-Ainsworth have finally agreed to a contract that will give them a raise while paying a higher fee for prescriptions. The contract was signed on a three year term.

The teachers OK'd the contract by voting, 196-17, this week. Then it was unanimously approved by the board. There are 298 teachers total in the school district.

The new contract will run until June of 2010 and gives the district teachers a 2.3% wage for the first two years of the contract, and 1.5% in the third year. Beginning in July of 2008, teachers will have an increased co-pay of prescriptions to help the district with the pay increase.

As of now, teachers pay up to $10 per prescription. Next year, however, they will pay a co-pay of up to $20 per prescription.

It was a slow, drawn-out process to come up with the agreement that both sides felt they could support as it took over one year. One of the reasons why it took such a long time is because the district was uncertain on Michigan State school funding programs as the state recently avoided a last-minute state-wide shutdown.

"I don't mind paying a slightly higher co-pay for prescriptions. How often does the average person have to get a prescription?" says elementary teacher of 12 years Linda Boss.

"I don't get sick very often and the cost of living is continually going up, especially in this area where jobs are hard to find. Having that extra each month will certainly help, even just to pay my monthly gas," she continued with enthusiasm.

The Board of Education was trying hard to give a raise in teachers salaries that was close to the rate of inflation. In the state of Michigan, groceries alone have increased in price by 6% (a gallon of milk now costs nearly $4.).

However, some voters are slightly biased on the agreement and feel it was not necessary to have an increase. Some feel as if they aren't actually going to see much an increase in pay.

"I have 6 prescriptions I have to fill every month. I'm getting a raise and paying it right back out to fill my prescriptions," says an unnamed, by request, high school teacher.

"I'm not getting much of an advantage in the new contract terms. I'll get maybe an extra $70 a month or so."