MCPS Employees Negotiate Tentative Raise

Public school workers in Montgomery County will see their first pay raise in years, school officials announced Monday.

Three different employee unions—the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU) and the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP)—negotiated a fiscal year 2013 salary increase of about 3.4 percent for their members.

The raises, which will come after a three-year freeze in cost-of-living increases, will cost Montgomery County Public Schools $20 million, or about one percent, of its $2.1 billion budget. 

“This agreement is about sustainability," said Superintendent Joshua P. Starr. "If we are going to sustain our history of excellence and sustain the reputation of Montgomery County as a great place to live, we must invest in the staff that does this outstanding work.”

Under the new deal, the school system would save about $7.5 million on employee health insurance by making workers pay more for prescription drugs and doctor visits. 

The Board of Education will vote on the budget June 14 if union members agree to the raises negotiated by their leaders.