Oregon School Employees Association Bargaining Session Update: November 6, 2014

November 6, 2014 OSEA Negotiations Update:

The meeting was held in the Woodland Elementary School Library from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Article 21 – Transportation:  The session was started by TA this article as agreed upon at the last session.

OSEA presented the following counter proposals:

Article 4 – Fringe Benefits:  OSEA provided comparison data for Gresham/Barlow, Centennial, Parkrose, and Oregon Trail along with the following proposal:

There was discussion regarding the comparison data provided and the District pointed out that the other districts prorate the benefit provided to its employees based on their FTE rather than based on the number of days worked as is done here in Reynolds.  It is not comparing like benefits when Reynolds amounts are compared because we do not prorate in the same manner as those districts do.  The District tried to manage the benefit distribution in a similar fashion in the last negotiations, offering 50% of the CAP to .5 employees but it was not accepted.

Article 8 – Salary:  OSEA provided a counter proposal along with reclassification request data:

2014/2015:  Increase the index between steps to a consistent 5% across the schedule.  Create an eleventh step on the salary schedule that is 5% above the tenth step

2015/2016:  Use the same salary schedule as in 2014/2015.  Provide a 2.5% COLA to all “stepped out” employees.

2016/2017:  Use the same salary schedule as in 2015/2016.  Provide a 2.5% COLA to all “stepped out” employees.

Grant the position reclassifications as requested (see attached list).

The District asked clarifying questions about the new salary schedule.  How would the 2.5% COLA be managed for the “stepped out” employees.  Is it paid as a stipend in each of the two applicable years and then it goes away at the end of the contract?  If it remains, how is it tracked if it is not on the salary schedule.  This would be difficult to administer/manage for HR and Payroll.  It was confirmed that the 2.5% in 2016/2017 is intended to be on top of the prior year’s COLA. 

OSEA also clarified that the intent is for the 2014/2015 proposal to be retroactive back to July 1, 2014.

Rachel Hopper, CFO, agreed to cost the proposal and provide some additional requested financial data back to OSEA prior to the next session.

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:

Two negotiations sessions were scheduled, the first for Monday, November 17^th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the DMC and the second for Wednesday, November 19^th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Woodland Library.