At a union membership meeting this morning, the Association of Catholic Teachers accepted a contract proposal from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Just prior to the teachers' meeting this morning, the Archdiocese made its final offer:

- For the average teacher, a salary increase of 4.18% in the first year of the contract, 4.06% in the second year of the contract and 4.07% in the third year of the contract

This translates to an annual average salary increase of $1618.00 in the first year of the contract, $1638.00 in the second year of the contract and $1708.00 in the third year of the contract

Currently, the average annual teacher salary for Archdiocesan high school teachers is $38,737. The proposed increase would raise the average teacher salary to $40,355 in the first year of the contract, $41,992 in the second year of the contract and $43,700 in the third year of the contract.

- There would be no change in employee medical contributions in the first year of the contract

- There are increases in doctor and prescription co-payments. For example, for those enrolled in Personal Choice, doctor co-payments would increase from $5.00 to $10.00 and prescription co-payments would increase from $5.00 to $10.00 for generic drugs and from $10.00 to $15.00 for brand name drugs

- Any increase in employee monthly medical contributions would depend on the increase implemented by our insurance carrier. The Archdiocese has no way of knowing from its insurance carriers exactly how much medical premiums will increase over the next several years. In years two and three of the contract, employee monthly medical contributions would increase by $.50 (for individual coverage) and $1.00 (for full family coverage) for every percentage point that the cost of Personal Choice increases (up to ten percent)

For example: Currently, under Personal Choice, a teacher pays $12.00 a month for individual coverage and $45.00 a month for full family coverage. These contributions would not change in the first year. During the second and third years of the contract, if the cost of Personal Choice increases 6%, a teacher would pay $15.00 a month for individual coverage and $51.00 for full family coverage. If the cost of Personal Choice increases 10%, a teacher would pay a maximum of $17.00 a month for individual coverage and $55.00 for full family coverage.

"We are extremely pleased that the teachers' union accepted our contract offer. This contract provides teachers with a fair and equitable salary increase and benefits package while balancing our need to contain the cost of tuition for our parents and students," said Catherine L. Rossi, Director of Communications.