Tentative meeting scheduled for Monday could result in
mediation
Morgan Hill – There is no movement on either side as contract negotiations between the Morgan Hill Unified School District and the district’s classified workers have stalled as workers say the district’s “last, best offer” is unfair.
Bright purple was the color many in the audience at Tuesday’s school board meeting were wearing, in support of members of the Service Employees International Union, who were protesting the offer for the second straight board meeting.
“I am just appalled I would have to say it again … This is so bad, this is not truthful … Please treat us with the respect that we deserve,” said Service Employees International Union Chair Pamela Torrisi as she told trustees she was very disappointed not only with the district’s offer but also with an open letter that was sent out to the district community dated Oct. 9.
Union members say they want the same salary increase as teachers and Superintendent Alan Nishino – a 5 percent increase. District officials say the offer is “very fair,” that the workers are being offered 8 percent in total compensation over a two-year period.
According to the district’s open letter, the compensation package includes salary and benefits, with 3 percent salary increase for the 2006-07 school year and a 3 percent benefit increase from $5,022 to $6,300 per year with two additional work days; for 2007-08, the district is offering a 2 percent benefit increase, from $6,300 to $7,200 per year with one additional day of work.
District officials say in that year, the classified retirement benefits will also change to bring them in line with the rest of the district workers’ retirement benefits, which end when they reach age 65. Currently, the SEIU contract calls for retirement benefits to continue for five years after the retirement date, regardless of age.
Torrisi points out that the contract the district negotiated with the Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers includes a 5 percent increase in salary alone, with an extra .5 percent for an extra day of work. Their benefits are not a part of the 5 percent.
“I hope we can settle this soon, you’ve heard from us repeatedly; I’m
sure you’re tired of it, and we’re tired of saying it,” Torrisi said. “Let’s talk just about salary. It’s 2 percent; when you look at teachers, just salary, it was 5 percent; when you look at Dr. Nishino it’s 5 percent. You cannot in all conscience say it’s an 8 percent raise, when actually the salary is just 2 percent. We can add, we can subtract.”
Nishino said Thursday that he was hopeful the district and the union would come to an agreement.
“We’re still talking, we put a call into them last night,” he said. “We want to continue with negotiations, and we’re still hopeful. As far as mediation, we aren’t pushing that agenda. We’d really like to go forward.”
Torrisi said if negotiation fails, then the two sides will go to mediation. Union members cannot strike because of a no strike clause in the contract.
“We’re hoping to go back to the table; nobody wins in mediation,” she said. “We have a tentative (meeting) set for Monday. We’re hoping that it will do the trick. If we have to go into mediation, it could take six months or a year.”
One of the things that makes the compensation package unfair, Torrisi said, is that a large number of the classified employees – almost half – don’t take the medical benefits.
“So am I supposed to just go bargain for a portion of my employees? I don’t think so,” she said.
Sobrato High teacher Brooke Bailey said although she didn’t attend Tuesday’s meeting she thought the issue the classified workers raised was important to address.
“All I want to say is I’ve never seen such hard-working classified employees; they always step up to the plate,” she said. “They work way over the hours they’re supposed to. It’s ironic to be adding days, because they add their own days … They are all devoted to the kids. They’re not only doing their job, they’re there for the kids all the time.”
Elena Hernandez, a counselor at Britton Middle School, said the inequity of the district’s offer disturbed her.
“It’s like steak versus hamburger … In a family, you do not sit certain people at the table and provide them with steak while you provide others with hamburger,” she said. “We’re all family here.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
