In the 42-page document, factfinder Ira Lobel spells out specific areas
of contention between the parties, some mundane and having to do with
creating uniformity between the high school and elementary school
contracts. Local elementary school contracts were made uniform several
years ago and during this round of contract negotiations, school board
members are working to unify the high school and elementary school
contracts.
WAGES AND HEALTH CARE
Perhaps the most contentious area of disagreement between the parties
has to do with wage increases for the coming year. The school boards
proposed a 1 percent reduction of each teachers' 2009-10 salary and
proposed no further increase in base salaries, no step or column
movement and no increases to teachers who are off the step/column
schedule (the step/column schedule increases wages for teachers based on
seniority and educational level). The board further proposed that that
2009-10 salary schedule - as reduced by 1 percent - become the 2010-11
pay schedule.
The teachers associations proposed a two-year contract with a 3.5
percent increase in 2010-11 and 4.5 percent in 2011-2012. And the
associations proposed that each teacher would advance one step in salary
schedule annually.
Factfinder Lobel, writing at length about the difficulty of Vermont's
current economic crisis, urged both parties to consider this summer's
contract between the Vermont State Employees Association and the state
of Vermont calling for a 3 percent reduction in 2010-11 and 2011-2012.
VSEA CONTRACT
Lobel notes that the teachers associations argue that the district has
the ability to pay and has budgeted money for increases, and argued that
the actual cost-of-living increase for 2010 was 2.5 percent.
Lobel wrote that both parties must keep in mind the contract between the
state and the state employees union calling for the 3 percent
reduction.
"This settlement must be considered in any recommendation. A significant
number of voters and taxpayers in the community are state employees
whose funding sources are similar to teachers and school district. A
settlement in this supervisory union that has any wage increase could
easily lose support of an electorate that is already seeing their own
wages being cut or frozen. While these communities have always supported
education, school boards must constantly assess and balance increased
personnel costs with taxpayer acceptability, especially in situations
where a significant portion of the taxpayers are receiving pay freezes
or cuts," Lobel wrote.
WAGE FREEZE
He ultimately recommended a one-year wage freeze, except for column
(educational level) increases, and he rejected the union's call for a
two-year contract.
In terms of health care costs and plans, currently district employees
pay 12 percent of the premium costs for an individual, couple or family
membership. Employees who participate in a parity program (have medical
coverage elsewhere or through a spouse/partner) are compensated at an
amount similar to the regular employees' plan.
The board is proposing increasing the employee contribution to 16
percent (Fayston teachers already pay 15 percent) and adding a third
type of coverage with a high deductible of which the district would pay
$1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for couples/families and those
employees contributing 16 percent towards the cost of that program.
The associations want to keep the current plans as they are.
PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES
The factfinder pointed out that private sector employees pay a far
greater percentage of their health care and often for an inferior plan.
"This clearly can cause political problems in the community when seeking
school budget acceptance. However, it is essential to compare the
benefits of these teachers with other employees similarly situated in
both Washington County and the state."
Lobel noted that in other parts of the state teachers are now paying
over 15 percent of their premiums and pointed out that contributions
from education sector employees are more advantageous than other sectors
of employment in the state. He also pointed out that Vermont state
employees have been paying 20 percent of their health care costs for
over 20 years and that in the private sector only 60 percent of Vermont
employers even offer health insurance and cover an average of 80 percent
of the costs.
Ultimately Lobel suggested that the health care plans and contribution
remain the same, in light of his recommended wage freeze. A full copy of
the report is available at the Washington West Supervisory Union. The
parties will continue their negotiations in the coming weeks in hopes of
reaching a compromise.
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