Contract Settlement Log-notes

NEW ESP Contract Settlement Log/Notes January 2006 The Coleman ESP reached an agreement for 2005-07 that includes salary increases ranging from $0.20 to $.40 per hour each year, and adds another $0.30 longevity step to bring the maximum longevity to $0.90 per hour. The settlement also includes movement to a WEA Trust Point of Service (POS) plan and improved layoff/transfer language. The Howard-Suamico ESP also agreed to move to the WEA Trust Select plan as part of a 2003-06 contract that provides 3.0% per cell wage increases each year. The Oconto Falls ESPA also reached a voluntary settlement for 2005-07 that includes wage increases of $0.40 each year as well as a $0.05 increase in each longevity step. No changes where made to the insurance package. The Shawano-Gresham ESPA ratified a 2005-07 contract that provides across-the-board wage increases of 5.0% each of the two years. In addition, if an agreement is reached during the term of a contract to change health insurance carriers, an additional 3.0% across-the-board increase will be effective at the same time as the change of carriers. The Pulaski ESP and Pulaski Custodians/Cooks settled contracts for 2005-07. Both bargaining units made improvements to vacation eligibility, increased sick leave accumulation to 120 days, clarified the language on school cancellations, and improved the sick leave payout at retirement. Payout of sick days was changed from the substitute rate of pay for a position, to the starting rate of pay for the position. The ESP unit's wage increases were $0.38 for 2005-06 and $0.35 for 2006-07. While Custodians and Cooks bargained hourly wage increases of $0.40 for 2005-06 and $0.35 for 2006-07. February 2006 De Pere ESP also ratified a 2005-07 contract in January. Salary increases will be $.45 in 2005-06 and 3.5% in 2006-07. The second year schedule is guaranteed and not tied to insurance or a total package. A procedure was established for obtaining volunteers and using a rotating seniority basis for volunteers and assignments related to working weekend/evening events and overtime. Seasonal groundskeepers are now considered 9-month employees and receive the same benefits as school year employees. Language was also added which provides for a floating holiday for employees who volunteer or are assigned to work in a paid holiday. March 2006 The Ashwaubenon ESP unit reached a voluntary settlement for a 2005-2007 contract. The new agreement includes improved language regarding layoffs, use of long-term substitutes, and job postings and transfers. It also adds a new continuing education provision and a three-tier drug card ($5/$10/$30). Wages will be increased $0.35 per hour retroactively to July 1, 2005 and 2.6% on July 1, 2006. April 2006 The Crivitz Association of Support Personnel recently reached tentative agreements on a 2005-07 contract. Included are language revisions to the grievance procedure, personal and emergency leave, and change of work schedules - in which a 48 hour notice of any change in daily or weekly schedule will now be required, except in emergency situations. The agreement also calls for movement from the WEA Trust Front-End Deductible (FED) plan to the Trust Point of Service (POS) plan. Wages will be increased $0.30 per hour across-the-board in each of the years, except for the Kitchen Helper Classification which will receive an increase of $0.45 each year. May 2006

The Crivitz ESP settled an agreement for 2005-07 that includes across-the-board increases of $0.30 in each of the two years, no changes to the health insurance plan, and adds an additional holiday. The Shawano-Gresham ESP approved changing the third party administrator of the District's self insured health insurance plan from WPS to Auxiant. As a result of the change, the ESP will receive a wage increase of 3.0% effective July 1, 2006. September 2006 The Peshtigo ESP reached a voluntary agreement on the 2006-08 contract during mediation. The settlement includes an across-the-board increase of $0.30 each year. It also changes the health insurance plan from a frontend-deductible to a network point-of-service plan and increases the lifetime maximum benefit to $2 million.. The West De Pere Custodians settled a one year contract for 2006-07 on June 22. Wages were increased $0.45 across-the-board on 7/1/06. In addition, language was added that the District will provide each employee (3) three shirts with a District logo at the beginning of each school year. The Clintonville ESP agreed to the 2006-08 contract that includes clarification of the trial period process for job transfers, names the WPS PPO health insurance plan in the contract for the first time, and continues a 20% health insurance increase as the trigger for a re-opening on wages in the second year of the contract. Wages will increase across-the-board $0.90 on 7/1/06 and $0.25 on 7/1/07. December 2006 The Bonduel ESP ratified a 2006-08 contract on November 30th. Terms of the new agreement include: modifications to the bumping language, carryover of up to 40 hours of vacation, payment of accumulated sick leave to spouse or dependents if the employee dies prior to retirement; increase in monthly contribution for 12-month employees from $45 to $60 per month for family plan and from $25 to $30 per month for single plan effective 1/1/07; change from WEA Trust FED plan to trust POS plan, including a $100/200 deductable, $5/15/30 drug card and an increase to $2 million maximum aggregate benefit. Hourly wages will increase $.35 on 7/1/06 and $.30 on 7/1/07. February 2007 The Howard-Suamico ESP ratified a one-year agreement for 2006-07. Terms of the agreement include revisions to probationary language, vacation and emergency school closing provisions; a restriction of 90 calendar days for temporary employees; new compensatory and flex time language; additional paid holidays for Aides, Food Service and Part-Time classifications; and a $.45 increase to the salary schedule. October 2007 Bouduel ESP reopened its 2006-08 contract to make the change from WEA Trust FED to WEA Trust Preferred along with the EA unit. As a result, the salary schedule was increased $0.60. Howard-Suamico ESP as with the EA, health insurance was changed from WEA Trust FED to WEA Trust Preferred. The 2007-09 agreement includes a $0.60 wage increase on 7/1/07, with the wage increase in year two tied to the increase in health insurance rate. Food service and part timers will receive an additional holiday, while part-timers will also receive an additional personal and emergency leave day. Marinette Secretaries Association reached a new 2007-09 contract that increases the salary schedule $0.50 in each of the two years. There were no other changes. Pulaski ESP and Cooks-Custodian Association both reached contracts for 2007-09 that increase wages about 3.0% in the first year. A guarantee of a 0% increase in health insurance in the second year will result in wage increases ranging from 5.1% to 5.5%.

Shawano ESP agreed to the same health insurance changes as the EA in reaching a 2007-09 agreement. Wages will increase $0.85 on 7/1/07 and $0.50 on 7/1/08. In addition, longevity steps were increased each year, changes were made to vacation accrual, and an additional personal day was added after 13 years in the district. West De Pere Custodians reached an agreement for 2007-10 that provides for per hour wage increases of $1.10 on 7/1/07, $0.60 on 7/1/08 and $0.60 on 7/1/09. As with the EA, health insurance was changed to WEA Trust.

Note: Keep in mind that when we report settlements with total package increases, it is not reflective of the salary increases received by the members of that local. Rather, the total package includes the increased cost of wages and all fringe benefits, such as, but limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, long-term care insurance, and retirement contributions. Large increases in fringe benefits can result in small increases in salaries or even salary reductions. return to main