Berkeley Unified Teachers Getting 1-Percent Bonus

BERKELEY (CBS SF) -- In a state that's plagued with ongoing public education cuts, teachers in the Berkeley Unified School District will get a welcome one-time bonus, according to the Berkeley Board of Education announced.

The board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a one-time, one percent bonus to all teachers district-wide, according to school board officials.

"We wanted to do something in these hard times to help our dedicated employees," board President John Selawsky said. "Our teachers and staff have not received raises in many years, yet most of them have had to pay more and more money every year toward their benefits."

School board officials said the district was negotiating similar agreements with the district's remaining employee bargaining groups and expects all of its workers to receive the same bonus.

Cathy Campbell, Berkeley Federation of Teachers president, called the bonus "an excellent short-term measure" and said district employees are hoping state ballot initiatives this November will "bring badly needed long-term revenues to public education in California."

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