Oregon School Employees Association Bargaining Session Update: June 26, 2014
June 26, 2014 OSEA Negotiations Update
The meeting was held at Reynolds Middle School in Room 203 from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
OSEA presented the rest of its opening proposal, except for Article 25 – Discrimination which they will provide at the next session.
Article 2 – District Rights – OSEA is proposing language that disallows the District to contract out any classifications or bargaining unit work for the length of the contract. OSEA is also requesting that the District provide sixty days’ notice to the union and impacted employees of any action that results in a reduction in staff.
Article 4 – Fringe Benefits – OSEA is proposing that the District provide single, two-party, or family plan medical and vision insurance at no cost to the Classified Group and that the district provide employee only dental insurance to the Classified Group. Dependent dental coverage would be an out of pocket expense to the Classified Group. Classified Group members who provide proof of other credible coverage and elect not to use the District provided medical insurance plan would be entitled to a $400 per month TSA option.
Article 5 – Leaves of Absence – OSEA is proposing that Emergency Leave be usable in 1 hour increments and that denials of emergency leave use be reviewed by the superintendent within the pay period. The proposal also includes adding domestic partner to the Immediate Family list and the opportunity to use any available emergency leave during the three (3) day waiting period for Workers’ Compensation rather than the current allowable use of only one day.
Article 7 – Emergency Closure – OSEA is proposing that the list of essential employees be added to the bargaining agreement and include Information Technology staff, Head Custodians, Maintenance, and Transportation Mechanics only. In the event that an essential employee is not able to make it to work, even when called in, they shall fall under the same terms of non-essential employees.
Article 11 – Work Time – OSEA is proposing that school secretaries work a 210 day work calendar and that the additional three (3) days used before or after the academic year for Educational Assistants and Media Assistants be used only for additional training. In addition any employee who works beyond the school year shall be afforded the opportunity to accrue and use sick leave. Current language allows this provision only for those employees whose work year is extended by the District within their regular classification.
Article 16 – Strike and Work Stoppages – OSEA is proposing to eliminate this article which primarily disallows work stoppages or slowdowns for the length of the contract.
Article 25 – Discrimination (Next Session) – OSEA did not provide their proposed language for this article.
Article 27 – Administrative Accountability (New) – OSEA is proposing new language that requires the District to provide the union and Reynolds School District Community with a narrative and supportive quantitative data when the ratio between administrative employees and classified employees of the school district increases by 1%. In addition, using the school year 2011-2012 as a base year, the District will provide to the union and Reynolds School District Community a narrative and supportive quantitative data for each successive school year where increases of administrative personnel costs exceed the Portland Consumer Price Index.
The District and OSEA signed off on Tentative Agreements for the Articles that neither party is opening during this negotiation:
Article 1 – Recognition
Article 3 – Physical Examination
Article 9 – Holidays
Article 10 – Vacations
Article 13 – Personnel Records
Article 14 – Seniority/Layoff/Recall
Article 15 – Association Dues
Article 17 – Separability
Article 18 – Funding
Article 22 – Meetings and Conventions
Article 23 – Workshops/Courses
The next negotiations session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23rd at Reynolds Middle School in Room 203 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
