FREDERICK, MD - Teachers in Frederick County, Md. gave their contract proposal the red light.
The Frederick County Teachers Association counted the ballots of their 2,800 members.
68 percent of teachers voted to reject the proposed contract. It called for a 2.2 percent step increase. However, the increase would go into effect in December, instead of July, the start of a new fiscal year.
"I just think this has been a very painful budgeting process for teachers, and I know that they more than anything want to get this resolved and get things back to a more positive relationship between our employer, the Board of Education, and the employees we represent," said Gary Brennan, president of the Frederick County Teachers Association.
The Association says concerns over the step increase is the main reason members turned down the contract.
"Since teachers have not received an increment in over three years, a lot of teachers felt that the Board of Education and the county commissioners could have done better to find a way to fund a full year step increment," Brennan said.
The Frederick County Teachers Association and Board of Education are expected to meet next week and see if they can come to an agreement. If not, a third-party mediator will have to get involved in the negotiations.
