Classified employees reach
tentative agreement with
Santa Paula school district
July 05, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The Santa Paula Unified School District (SPUSD) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) after almost a year of negotiations.
The agreement calls for the classified employees to get a 1.5% to 4% pay increase, retroactive to October 1 of last year. Lisa Christman, local CSEA President called the new agreement, “A step forward. I’m thankful to the board members for doing the right thing.” The proposed contract will come up for ratification by CSEA members on July 10. The board will vote on the pact at their July 16 meeting.
Local CSEA Vice President Sue Carpenter said the union met the district halfway. “We just wanted to be treated equally,” she added, referring to the district’s agreement with the teacher’s union. “They are treating us fairly now.” As for the ratification vote on July 10, Carpenter said, “I have a good feeling about it.”
SPUSD Superintendent Alfonso Gamino said, “I’m very pleased to be where we’re at.” Gamino called the contract a “Significant milestone. It’s been a long time coming,” he added. He noted that everybody on both sides worked hard. Now, with the new unified district he said they have one contract and one salary schedule.
The classified workers turned out in force at the June 18 school board meeting, picketing outside Glen City School in protest of a plan to require the cafeteria workers, teachers’ aides, custodians and others to pay up to $250 per month in out-of-pocket costs for health coverage. They claimed that was double what teachers and administrators were paying. The new agreement lowers that amount to $125.
After picketing outside, many of the workers came inside for the regular board meeting and a number of them spoke to the board about their concerns. Brady Bailo, CSEA Field Office Director said “I can’t recall the last time that a classified unit has been asked to pay twice the contribution than their certificated counterparts for the same bucket of benefits. My message to you as a superintendent and a board is to hear these workers and do the right thing and settle for a fair contract.” Valerie Hollins, is a Senior Labor Relations Representative for Field Operations for the CSEA. She said she’s been at the bargaining table since the unification took effect. “For the most part it’s been very pleasant,” she said. “We’ve had to give a little, we’ve had to take a little. That’s part of bargaining.”
The district responded to the rally with a fact sheet stating that eligible classified employees would pay less for fringe benefits than they would have under the contracts of the two old school districts.
