NEW YORK (AP) -- Teachers in the nation's largest public school system have ratified a new contract with the city that gives them 15 percent raises over four years, union leaders announced Thursday.þþAbout 63 percent of the teachers voting favored the new contract, capping a lengthy, often contentious battle between the city and the United Federation of Teachers. More than 86,600 votes were cast.þþ''It is my hope that with this agreement, we can put the bitterness of the last few years behind us and work together to provide the highest quality education for our students,'' UFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement.þþTeachers had been without a contract since May 2003. At one point during the negotiations, the union threatened a strike, which would have been illegal.þþA tentative deal was struck in early October, and union delegates moved to get it approved.þþMayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement that the contract was ''good for teachers, the city, and most importantly, our school children.''þþThe pay of starting teachers would increase to $42,000 from $39,000, with a new maximum base pay of about $92,000, up from $81,000.þþThe contract also extends the school year by two days and requires teachers to work 50 minutes more each week, giving students extra help.þþ
Source: NY Times
