Around this time last year, RPS became the first division in Virginia to recognize teachers’ rights to collective bargaining. Yesterday, representatives from RPS, the Richmond Education Association, and four collective bargaining units announced that they had ratified four agreements.
The negotiated agreements are divided based on four units within RPS: teachers, nutrition, instructional assistants, and care and safety. Collective bargaining for each has been going on since August.
Members of each unit met over the past week to ratify the agreements, which then went before the REA. Next, they’ll need to be reviewed by the RPS School Board and implemented in the superintendent’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
Here are some of the highlights from each agreement. Get even more details from the livestreamed announcement.
✏️ Teacher Unit
- Minimum of 12% raise over the next three years (6% in the first year)
- Compensation if planning periods or lunches are lost due to coverage needs
- Increased or new stipends for additional duties
🍎 Nutrition Unit
- 25% raise over the next three years, immediate access to healthcare, and three personal, paid days a year for food service assistants
- 10% raise over the next three years for nutrition supervisors
- 15% raise over the next three years for nutrition managers
💻 Instructional Assistants Unit
- ~40% raise over the next three years
- Compensation when covering for a teacher due to absence
💙 Care and Safety Unit
- 10% raise over the next three years for security supervisor roles
- 14% raise over the next three years for care and safety associates
Bargaining agreements will be in place for three years, then new agreements will be negotiated.
