The Latest from VEA

Educators in Fairfax have achieved a historic tentative agreement on a contract with the Fairfax County Public Schools, the largest school division in Virginia and 9^th largest in the U.S., for the first time in half a century. Fairfax Education Unions and Fairfax County Public Schools announced the agreement today after a several months-long process and extensive negotiations. FEU is affiliated nationally with the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers and is the bargaining representative for 27,000 public school employees in Fairfax.

“This is a historic win for Fairfax students, educators and the community,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Should this agreement be ratified, it will show that when educators stand together and raise their voices, they can ensure their students have what they need to be successful. Now, we can prioritize what truly matters—delivering exceptional educational experiences for our students and supporting educators in doing the jobs they love.”

The tentative agreement would allow for region-leading employee compensation via salary and step increases, additional educator planning time and continuation of an eight-hour teacher contract for special education teachers. The unions also advocated for FCPS to initiate the Request for Proposals process in January 2025 to rebid to seek more affordable healthcare plans for staff. Through this tentative agreement, educators and staff have won defined health and safety procedures that prioritize the well-being of students and educators, fostering safer classrooms and a stronger voice for everyone in the FCPS community.

“FEU and FCPS have indeed made history today,” said Virginia Education Association President Carol Bauer, “and its effects will be felt by students and school employees for many years. Better working conditions for educators lead to better learning conditions for students, and that’s always been the goal for all of us who work in our public schools—we chose this work because we believe in our young people and in a bright future for all.”

“After 47 years, we’ve made significant strides toward fairness and unity for every educator in Fairfax County,” said Leslie Houston, FEA president. “This tentative agreement represents not just a contract, but a testament to the determination and solidarity of educators. Together, we are shaping a future that reflects our commitment to students, staff and the entire community.”

“This tentative agreement will undoubtedly improve the lives of the FCPS workers we represent,” said David Walrod, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers president. “We hope this spurs more labor activism and contracts around Virginia. We’re excited to ratify this contract and are looking forward to continuing to make Fairfax County a world-class educational system for students and FCPS workers.”

FEU has established a unified voice for educators and support personnel. Together, members will continue to advocate for improved learning conditions, smaller class sizes, enhanced school safety and mental health resources, and increased preparation time, among other key issues.