Frederick County Teachers Voting On Contract

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- The Frederick County Teachers Association is asking its members to vote on a proposed contract that the union opposes.

The association and school board said Monday that the ratification vote ends June 14. If teachers ratify the one-year
deal, it will take effect July 1.

The contract would give teachers a pay raise averaging 3.5 percent on Dec. 1 depending on years of experience. Frederick County teachers haven't had one since 2009. The package also includes an 8 percent increase in insurance premiums, effective July 1. The board's 80 percent contribution to insurance would also rise 8 percent.

Union president Gary Brennan says the delayed pay increase, combined with higher teacher insurance and pension costs, would result in an effective pay increase of less than 1 percent.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)