The Sweet Home classified association rejected a proposed contract settlement two weeks ago.
“It is unfortunate that The New Era headlines regarding the classified contract misled people into thinking there was a four-year freeze in pay,” association President Mary Burton said. “In fact, the contract presented to our members put approximately $72 into most members’ pockets every month this year, which is equivalent to more than 40 cents per hour for an eight-hour day and more than that for less than eight hours.
“It also allowed us the security of a four-year contract for language and the flexibility to bargain for compensation issues each year.”
Burton refers to a June 4 story about an agreement in concept.
“The article was factual,” Burton said. “If they bothered to read the whole thing.”
A date has not been set for the two sides to return to the bargaining table, District 55 Supt. Larry Horton said. Tentatively, they are planning to meet toward the end of August before school starts.
With the rejection of the proposal, employees will work under the existing contract, which will include step increases.
A step increase would cost about $40,000 to the general fund and about $10,000 in other funds, Business Manager Russ Allen said.
Without the contract, the district will retain savings created by employees opting out of insurance benefits, Supt. Horton said. He believes the savings from that in the next two months will offset the cost of step increases for the 12-month employees, who will begin receiving the step increase immediately.
Under the proposed settlement, a cap on the School District’s contribution to health premiums would remain at $485. Employees would have the opportunity to opt out of the insurance program. Money saved beyond the first 10 to opt out would be divided among remaining employees and applied to their insurance premiums for 2003-04.
The proposed settlement included a four-year provision for language and re-openers on salary and insurance after one year.
It also included a provision to re-open negotiations if state revenues were higher than budgeted. The district budgeted based on a state figure of $4.778 billion for education in 2003-04.