Niles Township High School Union Contract Ushers In New Era

The Niles Township High School Dist. 219 Board of Education on Aug. 15 approved a new contract for the Niles Township Federation of Teachers and Support Staff, who earlier the same day voted to accept the July 1, 2017-effective agreement.

Teachers and unionized support staff would see an increase of 3.5 percent in the first year and annual increases in years two and three of the contract tied to the Consumer Price Index for American cities, plus 1.25 percent, with a floor of 2.75 percent and a ceiling of 3.5 percent.

Under the new agreement, 37 staff support positions currently performed by outsourced contract workers will become direct district employee positions. The contract also covers 369.5 full-time teachers and 205 support staff. Maintenance, clerical and librarian jobs that were contracted would become district union employee positions.