Salary Offer Leak Angers Teachers Union

In an unusual move that has angered union officials, Orange Unified School District administrators have released the salary offer they have made to teachers in current negotiations.

District officials said they offered to raise the pay scale for new teachers by as much as 17%. Current teachers would receive a 7% raise under a new contract covering the 1996-97 school year. Teachers would receive another 7% the next year, followed by a 5% raise.

But administrators are also seeking substantial reductions in the benefits packages offered to current and retired teachers.

New teachers entering the district start at $24,000 on average a year and can expect just over $48,000 at the highest end of the scale. Currently, teachers receive benefit premiums of $5,410 per year, an amount the district would like to reduce to $4,500 per year.

David Reger, president of the teachers union, said he was angry that the district was publicizing its offer.

“I’m upset that the district gave out a press release because negotiations are usually done confidentially,” he said. “I am not trying to hide anything. I will keep my [union] members fully informed, but I think it is improper to negotiate in the press.”

Reger said the union will offer a counterproposal at the next negotiating session on Sept. 12.

Supt. Robert L. French conceded that negotiations are usually confidential. But releasing the proposal does not break any rules, and the district has taken a lot of criticism lately for offering the county’s lowest teacher salaries.

“We thought it would be best that everyone understands what efforts we are making to have equitable salaries,” he said. “We are not negotiating in public. We invite them to put out their side.”