On June 20, 2014, representatives from the school district and the Becker teachers’ union participated in the fifth mediation session with a mediator from the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services.  The parties discussed the 2013-15 and the 2015-17 contracts, which cover a period of four years.

 

 The school district’s current proposal for the 2013-15 contract includes a $804,425 increase, which is a salary and benefit increase of $4,957 per teacher over the two years.  The 2015-17 proposal is an additional increase of $654,495, which is an additional salary and benefit increase of $3,878 per teacher over two years.

 

 The current proposal from the teachers’ union for the 2013-15 contract is a $916,167 increase, which is a salary and benefit increase of $5,646 per teacher over the two years.  The 2015-17 proposal is an additional increase of $1,761,173, which is an additional salary and benefit increase of $10,436 per teacher over the two years. 

 

 Upon receipt of the union’s proposal on June 20, the mediator ended the session.  The parties have scheduled a sixth mediation session on August 18th.  In addition to the mediation sessions, the school district and the union have met for negotiation sessions 10 times.  The school district remains committed to its effort to settle the teachers’ contract as soon as possible in a positive manner.