Both bargaining teams in contract negotiations between School District 55 and its classified employees reported that the there was movement toward a settlement following the initial meeting in mediation Thursday night.
The bargaining teams jointly requested mediation in an attempt to resolve several issues where the district and classified had significant differences.
Oregon School Employees Association representative Tom Motko said he was not at liberty to comment on what is happening in mediation.
“Although there has been some movement by both parties,” Motko said. “We’re guardedly optimistic.”
Business Manager Russell Allen, who is a part of the district’s bargaining team, said because of the sensitivity of negotiations at this point, he could not comment on the proceedings either.
The two sides did reach tentative agreement on two articles of the contract, one dealing with association rights and the second dealing with grievance procedures.
“The district believes there was progress made, and both sides are working diligently,” Allen said. “There are some key issues to be resolved.”
Key issues prior to entering mediation included health insurance, salary, vacation and filling vacancies.
The two sides disagree on how to approach salaries. Aside from a difference in the amounts proposed by the two sides, the Classified Association opposes the district’s attempt to improve the positions of employees with below-average pay by offering a larger percentage to them. The district has proposed a lower percentage increase for employees at average and a smaller increase for those above the average already. The association is proposing an across-the-board pay increase.
The district has proposed eliminating the “me-too” clause in the classified contract for insurance. The me-too clause means that the district’s contribution toward health insurance premiums increases, insurance caps, for classified employees when the district negotiates a larger insurance cap for either the teachers or administrators. The association wants to retain the me-too clause.
The association wants to continue to be able to use accrued sick leave for family illnesses. The district has proposed limiting the sick leave to the employee only. The district moved on this issue during regular negotiations and offered a limit of three days per year to the association, a position the association rejected.
The two sides have disagreed on filling vacancies as well. The district wants to be able to post job openings publicly to draw a larger pool of applicants. The association wants the district to keep job postings in-house when the district has at least three qualified employees applying.