Union, district get personal over debate

Sean C. Morgan

During their third bargaining session Thursday evening, representatives of the classified association told representatives of the District 55 School Board about the difficulties they face as prices rise and their take-home pay shrinks, even after past raises.

On the other side of the table, district officials described the revenue shortfall and budget cuts they have had to make to balance the district budget.

The two bargaining teams sidelined their attorneys, who had been leading negotiations.

“We want to start over and take a more collaborative spirit,” said Susan Kinney for the classified bargaining team.

They reached tentative agreements on most articles in their contract, which ends on June 30, leaving 12 articles for discussion, including salary and insurance benefits.

The district has proposed no increase in pay or insurance benefits with a three-year contract.

The classified employees, who serve in a variety of support functions throughout the School District, have proposed a two-year contract, with a 1.5 percent increase to their salary schedule in 2011-12 and a 2 percent increase in 2012-13. The classified union also proposes increasing the district’s contribution to insurance premiums from $860 to $925 per month in 2011-12 and $1,000 in 2012-13.

Susan Kinney explained the classified union’s rationale for its proposed wage increases.

“We felt prices are increasing, expenses are increasing, insurance is increasing,” Kinney said. “Looking at settlement patterns around the state, districts are settling at around 1.5 percent with classified employees.”

Insurance is the biggest major concern for the members of the association, Kinney said. The cost keeps increasing while the coverage is decreasing.

Increases to salaries and insurance benefits haven’t kept up with the increasing costs of health insurance, even though the figures look like huge increases, Kinney said. Over the past few years, insurance premiums have increased 10 to 12 percent.

The association is proposing a 7.5 percent increase in the district’s contribution to insurance premiums, she said, splitting the likely actual increase that will occur with the district.

Board member Chanz Keeney said he read a quote from a legislator in a newspaper about the state budget passed last week: “I don’t like it,” Sen. Chris Edwards, D-Eugene, told senators. “But colleagues, you know what, this recession sucks. All these decisions suck, and this budget sucks. But we don’t have a choice. We have to do this.”

The state legislature approved a $5.7 billion statewide education budget, which means the district will be forced to cut the $1.5 million out of its budget that it had been projecting.

Yet the association is asking for an increase, Keeney said. “Where are we supposed to come up with that kind of money? We obviously care about the employees, but we’ve closed a school already. We are in a recession. Other districts went negative to try to make up for this.”

Keeney said he doesn’t see a good outlook for the next two years.

The classified employees were the only ones to receive a pay increase last year, Keeney said.

And even with that, Kinney said, the classified employees didn’t see the increase with snow days and furlough days, which are days the district and unions agreed to cancel to help balance the current budget.

Everyone is feeling it, Keeney said.

“We are operating in the negative, basically,” Keeney said. “We basically used up our savings account.”

Over the next two years, those sources for revenues won’t be there, he said. Other districts are attempting to pass bonds and levies.

“I don’t think Sweet Home would go for something like that,” he said.

Other districts pay more, “but they’re in bad, bad shape,” he said.

Kinney suggested giving a little to everyone.

Pressed on where the district might find the money to pay for the raises, Kinney answered, “If we have to, we can sacrifice the least senior members. It’s not the best decision. It’s very hurtful.”

The cost of groceries, gasoline and insurance keep increasing, she said. “It’s difficult for our members to make ends meet.”

“You have to make sure the employees you keep can afford to work here,” said association president Lisa Gourley. “The classified, we’re the biggest bang for your buck.”

The union is not advocating layoffs though, said Sharon Conner. With declining enrollment, the district needs fewer people, but association members kind of feel like they are already taking the brunt of budget cuts.

The employees who stay are going to be better if they feel they have some value, she said.

It’s going to be hard to give raises, with things like the school closure still fresh in people’s minds, Keeney said. “Everybody in this community is struggling.”

“What we’re saying is, we want an increase,” Kinney said. “Believe me, we are living your argument.”

The classified employees are the community, said Michelle King. They live in Sweet Home, paying taxes, more than any other bargaining units.

Springfield is starting with a negative offer, while its teachers are starting positive with the idea of meeting somewhere around zero, said Supt. Larry Horton. The Sweet Home School Board decided early on to be up front and let the classified employees know what it has to offer this year, zero.

On June 30, when step increases automatically take effect if no contract is in place to prevent them, the district’s offer will be negative 1.7 percent to offset the step increases and maintain a balanced budget, Horton said. To get to the $1.5 million mark for budget reductions, the district also is asking the unions for four furlough days in the 2011-12 school year.

“There are very few options left to get to those dollars,” Horton said. “We will have to come up with savings somewhere.”

At some point, staff cuts are too deep, he said. After retiring from Sweet Home this school year, he will work part-time at Reedsport. That district is cutting all librarians and half its custodians.

“I don’t think cutting staff is the best way,” he said.

“I don’t think so either,” Kinney said.

“Per annualized income, I’m making less now than I did three years ago,” Gourley said.

During that period, classified wages have increased, but with furlough days and increasing out-of-pocket insurance expenses, some classified staff members may have less take-home pay.

It’s been the same way for teachers and administrators, Horton said. They’ve all taken four furlough days.

“Every single person in this district is losing ground on their insurance,” he said.

Aside from salary and insurance, the two bargaining teams discussed a donation bank for sick days and how many days per month they must work to accrue sick days and vacation time. The donation bank for sick days would allow personnel to donate one of their sick days to other employees who are catastrophically ill.

The teams will meet again on April 28.

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