The Cache Education Association has accused school district officials of violating last year's contract by giving teachers a 2 percent raise the association hasn't agreed to.
CEA President Barbara Covert said Sunday the 450 district teachers received the raise in checks Aug. 30, even though this year's contract negotiations between the union and Cache School District remain at an impasse.She cited a clause in last year's contract that says negotiated items will become effective only after the contract is ratified.
Teachers have not yet agreed to any raise, she said, adding that she has twice warned the district not to implement any disputed items until a settlement is reached.
Covert said Utah Education Association lawyer Mike McCoy said the unsolicited raise involves a "clear breach of the negotiated agreement between the district and the CEA."
Cache District business administrator Dale Hansen disagreed.
"We indicated in the discussions with the CEA that this would be done in good faith and that it did not mean the board was closing the door to negotiations or that 2 percent was the amount agreed upon," Hansen said.
He said giving the raise now would help the district, which would have less makeup in back-pay should the CEA succeed in negotiating a larger raise.
The district and CEA have asked a mediator to help move stalled contract negotiations.