Teachers Prepare To Vote On New Contract

A critical vote is just hours away as Baltimore teachers get ready to vote again on a controversial new contract.  Political reporter Pat Warren has the new pressure being put on the teachers to say yes.

Outside the Baltimore teachers' union headquarters, these teachers let it be known they plan to vote agains the tentative agreement reached between the union and the school system that bases pay on individual performance, rather than years served.

"We say the union members are against the contract," said one.

"What's the rush?" said another.

Even after studying the agreement, the teachers chose to vote no.

"We say this is bad for students.  It's bad for learning," a teacher said.

The mayor calls it a quiet storm but for a group whose function relies on organizational skills, the teachers' first vote in October was a mess.  The long lines and varied opinions resulted in 1,540 votes against the contract and 1,107 against.

We'll have the latest information on this story as it becomes available.