Oregon School Employees Association Bargaining Session Update: December 11, 2014

December 11, 2014 OSEA Negotiations Update:

The meeting was held in the Woodland Elementary School Library from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Fernando Gapasin, OSEA Representative presented a verbal proposal on behalf of OSEA:

Article 2: District Rights: Requesting a one-year MOU on not contracting out for 2014-15 with an annual reopener for the duration of the agreement.  The District will notify staff 60 days prior to any reduction in staff.

Article 4: Fringe Benefits:      Propose that 12 month employees should receive a higher CAP than is proposed for licensed staff because they work 12 months and licensed staff work 10 month. The 12 month CAP should then be prorated for 10 months and 9 months respectively.

No specific dollar amounts for the CAP were shared.

Article 5 Leaves of Absence: Propose reinstating language from Article 26: Early Retirement for “Payout for Unused Sick Pay” and moving it to Article 5 and increase the amount paid from $25 per day to $50 per day.

Article 8 Salary:     COLA:       2014-15: 2% for those in step and 3% for those out of steps, 2015-16: 2.5%, 2016-17: 2.5%.  The effect of this proposal is the addition of a “ghost” 11th step.  Those at Step 10 would receive 2% and those who have been at Step 10 for two years or more would move to the “ghost” Step 11.  The “ghost” step 11 would become the new baseline for the longevity steps.

Within three months the process is begun to evaluate the group of positions that were presented as requiring an increase.

Groundskeepers with a license to spray pesticides should receive an 8% stipend retroactive to July 1st for the portion of the time spent spraying pesticides (similar to media stipend).

No mandatory overtime.

Improving Student Learning – Propose that when staffing levels are reduced, the District and staff would negotiate what is and isn’t going to get done based on the reduced staffing levels.

Article 16 Strike and Work Stoppage: Will drop prior proposal if the District agrees to a 1 year MOU in Article 2 that there will be no contracting out of classified bargaining unit work with an annual reopener.

Article 24 Job Openings: Agree to the District’s changes in subsection C. Probation for New Appointments but reject the other changes proposed by the District in subsection B. Appointments regarding the rights of in-district applicants in the selection process.

Article 26 Early Retirement: If amendment to Article 5 Leaves of Absence reinstating the payout of unused sick leave for retirees is accepted, OSEA will drop request to retain Article 26.

Article 27 Administrative Accountability:  OSEA agrees to drop the proposal for this new article.

The teams caucused following the proposal at 5:50 p.m. and resumed at 7:15 p.m.

Brian Hungerford, Attorney presented a verbal counter proposal on behalf of the District:

Article 2: District Rights: District agrees to union MOU proposal on not contracting out for 1 year with a reopener on an annual basis for the duration of the agreement.

Article 4: Fringe Benefits:      2014-15:          $1200/mo (12 mo employees)

                                                                       $996/mo (195+ days)

              $900/mo (194 or less)

 

2015-16:          $1250/mo (12 mo employees)

$1038/mo (195+ days)

$938/mo (194 or less)

 

2016-17:          1300/mo (12 mo employees)

$1079/mo (195+ days)

$975/mo (194 or less)

 

Article 5 Leaves of Absence: District rejected union proposal on “Payout for Unused Sick Pay” proposal, but agreed to withdraw proposal to strike “Cost of Substitute” leave language and retain current contract language.

Article 8 Salary:         COLA for:        2014-15: 1%

           2015-16: 2%

           2016-17: 2.5%

 

  • Top step employees (2nd year) to receive one time stipend of $575
  • Groundskeepers with license to spray pesticides would receive $750 annual stipend, divided over 12 months
  • Full scale salary study to readjust pay scale for all classifications if necessary; to be completed by the end of the 2014-15 school year
  • District rejects OSEA proposal of “official language” for Learning Outcomes
  • District rejects OSEA proposal of “No mandatory overtime”

Article 16 Strike and Work Stoppage: Current contract language

Article 24Job Openings: Current district proposal to change language in Sec B and Sec C

Article 26 Early Retirement: Current contract language

The session concluded at 7:30 p.m.  No written proposals were exchanged.

Articles that Remain Open (9 of 27):

  • Article 2 – District Rights
  • Article 4 – Fringe Benefits
  • Article 5 – Leaves of Absence
  • Article 8 – Salary
  • Article 16 – Strike and Work Stoppage
  • Article 24 – Job Openings
  • Article 25 – Discrimination
  • Article 26 – Early Retirement
  • Article 27 – Administrative Accountability (New)

Next Steps:

The next negotiation session is scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Woodland Elementary School Library.