OSEA Bargaining Session Update: June 20, 2018
The ninth bargaining session between Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) and Reynolds School District (RSD) was held on June 20, 2018 in the library at Woodland Elementary School from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
OSEA & District: Rehana Nelson, District Bargaining Team, absent; Kim Greenlee, OSEA Bargaining Team, absent; Kimbra Bozikovich, tardy
District Presented the Following Counter Proposals:
Article 11 – Work Time – District counter proposal adopts OSEA proposed language in B. Workday to state, “Work time starts when employees start work duties.” District withdraws its previous proposal language to delete specific references to number of work days in specific work calendars in C. Work Year. District continues to propose that employees who work between four and one half (4 ½) hours and less than six (6) hours may waive their lunch breaks for the entire work year upon mutual agreement with their supervisors. District adopts OSEA proposed language in F. Rest Periods indicating that rest periods may not be added to the meal period or deducted from the beginning or end of the work shift in order to reduce the length of the work shift or be waived or used to adjust work hours. District also agrees to OSEA’s proposal to add the BOLI chart indicating required rest breaks and meal periods based on shift length. District continues to propose language indicating that employees who work at multiple worksites must take their rest periods at the work site presently being worked at and that additional time will not be provided to travel to alternate locations before beginning the rest period.
Remaining outstanding issues on this article are that the District is not accepting OSEA’s proposed language indicating that employees may request assistance from their supervisors in establishing or adjusting work priorities to carry out his or her work assignment and that the employee may request a written response from the supervisor. The District is also not accepting proposed new language which indicates, “other duties as assigned” shall be tasks that are not described in the job description and shall be defined as infrequent and at irregular intervals. “Other duties as assigned” is not intended to describe routine tasks.
Article 26 – New Article – Workplace and Environmental Safety
In response to the new article on this subject proposed by OSEA, the District has responded with language regarding the process to be followed when it is believed there are unsafe working conditions present; confirmation there will be a safety committee at each work site; and, the process to be followed when there is believed to have been a safety violation. District also provided explanation as to when concerns should be reported to the Safety Committee vs. when concerns should be reported to an IEP team for a review of a behavior support or safety plan.
Article 4 – Fringe Benefits and Article 8 – Salary (Package Proposal)
Article 4 – Fringe Benefits:
The District proposes increases to the CAP in each year of the agreement as follows:
Year 1 (2018-19) = $15
Year 2 (2019-20) = $25
Year 3 (2020-21) = $35
These increases are higher than those recently agreed to with REA which were $15 in each of the three years.
The District’s proposal also includes language to step down the use of remaining dollars toward the purchase of supplemental insurances, similar to the agreement reached with REA in support of its goal to contribute only toward the major insurances (medical, dental, and vision) and not continue contributing toward supplemental insurances. To help with this transition, the District has increased the district provided life insurance from $20,000 to $50,000.
Article 8 – Salary and the Corresponding Salary Schedules:
District proposes the cell phone stipend in the amount of $35 per month for employees who must conduct business while working in the community, be accessible outside normal business hours, or respond quickly in the case of emergencies when working away from district worksites or outside on the grounds. District’s agrees to $35 rather than previously proposed $25 in exchange for agreement that the District will not be responsible for replacement of cell phones under the replacement of personal property provision outlined in Article 12 – Association Rights, E – Property Loss.
District continues to propose language in agreement with OSEA proposal that represents current practice in the administration of overnight pay which is that the classified overnight rate of 1.5% be paid only during those hours during which a classified staff member is responsible for students overnight during sleep time. For all other hours worked, classified staff are to be paid either at the regular hourly rate or the overtime rate or be given compensatory time as per the provisions outlined in K. Overtime or L. Compensatory Time.
District continues to agree with OSEA’s prior proposal for a bilingual stipend for employees in positions whose job descriptions specifically require bilingual skills (i.e. translations verbally and/or in writing). However, District proposes these employees shall receive a stipend of 4% while OSEA’s last proposal requests the stipend to be 5%.
Salary Schedule:
District continues to propose a three-year salary schedule that does the following in each of the three years:
Year 1 (2018-2019)
- 2% increase to columns IA, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, MECHI, MECHII, and MECHIII to account for market comparability
- Smooth the step increases of steps 2 through 4 to 4% between steps
- 1% COLA over the 2017-2018 schedule for steps 5 through 10
- Reset column IA, step 1 to new minimum wage of $12.00 per hour
Year 2 (2019-2020)
- Smooth the step increases of steps 5 through 7 to 4% between steps
- 1% COLA over the 2018-2019 schedule for steps 1 through 4 and steps 8 through 10
- Reset column IA, step 1 to new minimum wage of $12.50 per hour
Year 3 (2020 – 2021)
- Smooth the step increases of steps 8 through 10 to 4% between steps
- 1% COLA over the 2019-2020 schedule for steps 1 through 7
- Reset column IA, steps 1 through 4 to account for new minimum wage of $13.25 per hour
Tentative Agreements Reached:
Article 1 – Recognition – The District agrees with OSEA’s last proposal of remaining with current contract language.
Article 12 – Association Rights – The District counter proposes previously proposed language regarding the District not accepting responsibility for the replacement of personal cell phones under E. Property Loss. In exchange for acceptance of this proposal, the District agrees to the $35 cell phone stipend rather than the previously proposed $25 cell phone stipend in its proposal for Article 8 – Salary. OSEA’s proposed language regarding Time Release for Association members remains and was adopted by the District in a prior counter proposal as well.
An agenda was not set for the next session. At this time, all proposals are with OSEA.
The session concluded at 6:35 p.m.
Upcoming Bargaining Dates Scheduled as follows:
Transportation, Building C:
July 17th – 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Woodland Elementary School Library:
August 27th - 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
