PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                  Tim Kraus, President
May 25, 2007                                     Cincinnati Federation of Teachers
513-519-2104 cell,
513-961-2272 Office

Cincinnati Teachers Ratify Contract by a 2 to 1 margin: Class Size Increases Hard for Many to Accept.

Statement by Tim Kraus, President of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers:

 “This was not an easy negotiation with the district leadership.  We were at the table for 6 months and it is gratifying to know that the agreement that was reached gained the overwhelming support of the teachers in Cincinnati.  While this is a vote of confidence for the bargaining team and the union leadership it is a bitter pill to swallow the increased class sizes in the K-3 classrooms. This vote represents a statement of commitment to the children of Cincinnati and the school district on the part of the teachers. Our members not only sacrificed professionally but they made personal sacrifices in health care and compensation.  It is time to get this district back on a sound financial footing. The children of Cincinnati and their educators have sacrificed enough.”

In addition to the CFT contract the Office employees represented by CFT/ACPSOP also ratified their contract. 

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