Workers demand 5 percent salary increase similar to teachers and
superintendent’s raises
Morgan Hill – Negotiations between the Morgan Hill Unified School District and the Service Employees International Union, which represents the district’s classified workers, have completely stalled, SEIU Chair Pamela Torrisi said Monday.
“They simply reworded it; it’s still same percentages, they just rearranged them, so we are now at an impasse,” Torrisi said.
The union is negotiating for wage and health benefits; the district has offered a raise of 3 percent in salary and 3 percent in benefits (increasing from $5,022 to $6,300 per year) with two additional working days and a 2 percent increase for the 2007-08 school year, increasing benefits from $6,300 to $7,200 per year with one additional workday and a change in retirement benefits (instead of benefits for five years after retirement, regardless of age, the district would like to stop benefits at age 65, as it does with teachers and administrators).
Torrisi and classified workers say the offer is unfair because Superintendent Alan Nishino received a 5 percent raise and teachers received a 5 percent raise.
Classified workers also point out that nearly half of the district’s classified employees do not take the health benefits, so the 3 percent increase this year and two percent next year would not benefit them.
Because the district and SEIU could not reach an agreement, mediation is the next step. Nishino said the papers would be filed to start that process, but he was not sure how long it would take to get started.
“It’s unfortunate,” School Board President Mike Hickey said of the impasse. “We believe that we had a very good offer on the table. It’s very unfortunate that we were unable to reach an agreement. Sometimes a third party has to step in.”
The district is making a good offer, Nishino said.
“It is unfortunate that we are unable to come to a resolution on the issue of negotiations,” he said. “We believe that it’s a fair offer on the table. It is always difficult trying to balance the needs of our students with what we think is good for employees as well.”
Nishino said that work would go on as usual during the mediation process.
“My experience is that mediation is another way to resolve disagreements,” he said. “It shouldn’t affect our students in the classrooms.”
The union has a “no strike” clause in its contract.
Torrisi said there was no union decision on working only scheduled hours.
“We’re still working on a game plan,” she said.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
