The Milwaukee Teachers Education Association and Milwaukee Public Schools reached an agreement June 25 on cost-of-living wage increases for union-represented employees, ending months of tense negotiations over the timing of raises.
The agreement includes a phased 2.63% cost-of-living adjustment that the school board approved this spring, matching the rate of inflation and the maximum amount the union can bargain for under state law. Under the plan, Milwaukee Public Schools employees represented by the union will receive a 1.5% raise beginning July 1 and another 1.13% increase in January. Next year’s budget also extends the same phased raises to all MPS staff.
“The parties reached this agreement through a shared commitment to the students, families, and employees of Milwaukee Public Schools,” the district and union said in a statement. “Securing fair and lawful wages for every covered employee has been a common priority throughout this process, and this agreement reflects the parties’ shared belief that the District and the Association accomplish more for the people they serve by working together than by working apart.”
The union had initially opposed the district’s cost-of-living proposal, arguing that workers should receive the full 2.63% hike to base wages by July 1. After negotiations remained at an impasse, the school board voted in April to move forward with the plan without union approval, unilaterally implementing its final wage offer.
Union leaders said the district mishandled negotiations and misrepresented to the public how much money its proposals would save. Union members also protested throughout the spring, saying Superintendent Brenda Cassellius’ budget plan would shortchange students and staff.
Cassellius has said delaying a portion of the cost-of-living increases would save MPS money as it faces a $46 million budget deficit.
The new agreement marks the end of the months-long dispute just days before a state deadline to finalize the terms. The school board organized a special meeting June 25 with less than 24 hours’ notice so both parties could ratify the agreement before June 30. Meeting materials said the district’s central office would be closed from June 26 through July 4, leaving little time to organize a public meeting at a later date.
The school board voted 5-0 to ratify the agreement.
“MPS and MTEA are united in their respect for the educators and staff who serve Milwaukee’s students, and look forward to continuing their shared work on behalf of Milwaukee’s students and the workers who serve them,” the two sides said in a statement.
Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions for the Journal Sentinel. Contact: khuynh@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @_kaylahuynh.
Kayla Huynh’s reporting is supported by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MTEA, MPS settle months-long dispute over cost-of-living pay raises
Reporting by Kayla Huynh, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Kayla Huynh, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
