Bedford: Board of Education agrees to three-year labor agreements

2/8/2006

TEMPERANCE - The Bedford Board of Education last week unanimously agreed to new, three-year labor agreements with three smaller employees' unions that granted pay increases but also instituted prescription drug co-pays.

The contracts with 25 employees represented by AFSCME, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the Bedford Administrative Association, cover skilled trades workers, bus mechanics, and the district's principals.

Annual pay increases ranged from 1 to 2.5 percent during the remaining two years of the contract, while all three unions agreed to go to a prescription drug card with $10 and $20 co-pays.

The move is expected to save the district approximately $100 per employee per month.

Wes Berger, Bedford's assistant superintendent for human resources, said the district will begin bargaining next with the union representing about 40 custodians.