District 146 Educators Ratify New Contract

Tinley Park, IL – Certified teachers in District 146 voted yesterday to accept the tentative agreement reached with the Board of Education last month that averted a work stoppage after 99% of members voted to go on strike. The union – the District 146 Educators Council (Local 604) – released the following statement after ratification:

“When we started this bargaining process, we knew that teacher recruitment and retention had to be a main focus in order to best serve the students in District 146. This agreement is a strong step towards that goal. By removing a limit on when educators must retire, and by bringing compensation closer to neighboring district standards, our district can better compete for teachers looking for jobs and ensure teachers who work here want to stay and build their career in our community.

“We are proud of our members, who stood strong and united to get this done, and thankful for our students and families who joined us in calling for real solutions that would ensure a secure, stable future for District 146. We are grateful to have reached this agreement and look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Board of Education and administration to give our students the high-quality education they deserve.”

72% of members voted in favor of the agreement.

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The District 146 Educators Council represents 232 teachers who educate 2,400 students in Tinley Park, Oak Forest, and Orland Park. The D146 Educators Council is affiliated with Local 604, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the American Federation of Teachers.