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Council approves five‑year contract between DC Public Schools and Washington Teachers Union
Summary
The Council unanimously approved an emergency declaration and the underlying collective bargaining agreement between DC Public Schools and the Washington Teachers Union, covering multi‑year wage increases, a FY24 bonus and expanded benefits and working‑condition protections.
The Council of the District of Columbia unanimously approved emergency consideration and final adoption of a five‑year collective bargaining agreement between DC Public Schools and the Washington Teachers Union Local 6 (American Federation of Teachers), the Council said during its Jan. 7 legislative meeting.
The contract matters because it sets multi‑year pay increases, benefit changes and working‑condition protections for thousands of DCPS teachers and is estimated by the Chief Financial Officer to carry a material multi‑year cost to the District.
Council members described the agreement as the product of months of negotiations and committee review. The Council said the contract covers roughly the district’s classroom teachers (the transcript gives an approximate figure); it was described in the meeting as covering “approximately 5,770 teachers.” The CFO estimate given during the meeting put the cost at about $52,100,000 in fiscal year 2025 and a total of about $238,900,000 through fiscal year 2028.
Key compensation and benefit terms announced in the meeting include a 4% bonus in lieu of a wage increase for fiscal year 2024, followed by wage increases of 2% in fiscal year 2025, 3% in fiscal year 2026, 3% in fiscal year 2027 and 4% in fiscal year 2028. Allen (chairing procedure) and Councilmember Bonds highlighted expanded optical, dental and legal benefits, inclusion of athletic trainers in the bargaining unit for the first time, additional morning planning time for teachers, expanded planning protections for special education and English‑language teachers, new paid wellness days and expanded parental leave benefits.
Councilmember Robert White praised the agreement’s importance for classroom stability, saying, “This 5 year contract is a testament to the dedication of our teachers and the commitment of both teachers and the administration and the council to ensure stability for our students in our schools.” Councilmember Bonds noted the union ratified the contract by a reported 96% membership vote and described the agreement as delivering “an equitable contract that thoroughly addresses both working conditions and compensation.”
The Council approved the emergency declaration to allow immediate consideration and then approved the underlying resolution authorizing the contract (PR26‑7) unanimously. Members repeatedly urged that the contract’s working‑condition changes were intended to support teacher retention and student outcomes.
Votes at a glance: PR26‑7 — Washington Teachers Union collective bargaining agreement with DCPS (five‑year agreement). Emergency declaration and underlying resolution approved unanimously.
