Bargaining Continues Today Between VCS And VUE

DeLand, FL – Bargaining continues today between the Volusia County School District and Volusia United Educators. The negotiations are related to Governor Ron DeSantis’ ‘Teacher Salary Increase Allocation’ which went into effect on October 1, 2020. This will be the second session. On October 20, the district and the union met with the union presenting the district with a proposal. The district presented a counter to the proposal followed by the union countering that counter. The district took the counter under review and is expected to respond today.  Volusia United Educators President Elizabeth Albert said the district’s counter-offer, a 1.3 percent increase to VUE’s original proposal for veteran teachers, is not enough.  "We know that longevity, loyalty, and years of service should count more. We’ve shown the district using their own numbers on how they can afford what we are proposing and we’ve asked for 3.5 percent." While the teachers’ negotiations continue, negotiations for support staff remain at a standstill. Albert said that VUE has heard nothing further since the district ended those negotiations on October 19. "We believe that the contract allows for reopeners to continue that conversation for support staff. Pay is a mandatory subject of bargaining and we are just exercising that right. We are exploring all of our formal options." Today’s bargaining session begins at 10 a.m.