Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 12:00 am
Robinson buyout could cost classified employees
By Larry Coonrod, Lebanon Express writer
Lonnie Harris, president of the Lebanon Association of Classified Employees (LACE) hopes to restart contract negotiations with the Lebanon School District in the next few weeks, now that the union's meditator returned to work after his own union settled a strike on Saturday.
Negotiations between LACE and the district started in February but stalled in August when the two sides could not come to an agreement over the union's request for increased pay and benefits. LACE's contract with the district expired on June 30.
Classified employees include instructional assistants, janitorial, maintenance and transportation staff. The district's classified staff continue to work under the terms of the old contract.
Both sides agreed to seek an independent mediator in August. James Sundell, of the Oregon Education Association's Professional Staff Organization had been representing LACE in talks until the union he belongs to went on strike Sept. 15.
LACE is concerned the district administration may use the school board's $400,000 buyout of former Superintendent Jim Robinson as leverage in arguing there is no money to meet the union's demands.
"They take everything off the backs of the classified, and we're not going to let them do that anymore," Harris said. "If the superintendent can take away $400,000, why can't we get a raise.
LACE is asking for a 3.3 percent raise this year and cost of living raises tied to the Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U) in the next two years. The district has offered a 2.75 percent raise with annual cost of living raises capped at 3.5 percent a year. Under the district's current contract with the Lebanon Education Association, teachers receive a yearly CPI raise capped at 5.5 percent.
Sundell said LACE members have received a two percent cost of living raise for the past three years, which has not kept up with inflation. The CPI-U for August was 5.4 percent, Sundell said.
"We think it's only fair. We all go to the same gas station. We all go the same grocery store," Harris said.
In August, Assistant Superintendent Steve Kelley said negotiations between LACE and the district had been non-adversarial and he was optimistic that with mediation, "We'll come up with a good contract both sides will be happy with."
Harris is hopeful the appointment of school board member Debi Shimmin will help LACE in getting a contract its members can support.
"Debi Shimmin is so kind-hearted and easy to get along with. I'm sure she'll understand why we need a raise," Harris said.