Fayette CTI teachers receive new contract
GEORGES TWP. — The Fayette County Career and Technical Institute (CTI) joint operating committee approved a five-year contract for teachers.
The committee approved the collective bargaining agreement with the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute Education Association in a 10-0 vote.
The contract, which was ratified by the teachers’ union prior to the committee vote, is retroactive to Aug. 31, when a previous three-year agreement had expired. The new contract will cover teachers at the CTI through August 2024.
Solicitor Gary Frankhouser said the contract was negotiated “with a lot of good give and take.”
The contract, Frankhouser said, provides for additional salary steps for instructors pursuant to their years of service, and it reflects changes made earlier this year and implemented in July to employee health insurance plans offered through the Intermediate Unit 1 Healthcare Consortium.
“I think that ended up being fair on both sides and also reflects the needs and the circumstances of the sending districts,” Frankhouser said of the contract.
“We feel like we have a very excellent staff. They do a commendable job with the students here,” he added.
Justin Grimm, union president, agreed with Frankhouser’s assessment of the negotiations.
“I would like to thank (the CTI negotiation team) for their fairness in being willing to work with us throughout the process,” said Grimm.
The CTI Education Association represents around 30 instructors at the school.
In related business, the committee tabled a vote on a three-year contract with the Service Employees International Union (S.E.I.U.) Local 32BJ, which represents service workers at the CTI.
Frankhouser said the union had postponed its vote to ratify the contract and that the committee wanted to wait for the outcome of the union vote before conducting its own vote.