Superintendent Chip Kimball says that the District "appreciates and values" the work of LWESP members. Apparently, the only appreciation that they are willing to give you is a paper certificate that says that "the district would not be able to operate without the hard work of classified employees" and that you "deserve recognition and thanks" for your excellent work.
Does Superintendent Chip Kimball really mean what he signed?
We don't think so.
March 8 - 12 is Classified Employee Appreciation Week. A truly competitive salary that attracts and retains quality employees would be a much more meaningful way to express recognition and appreciation. The District's latest salary offer is essentially a "bone" and a "pat on the head". You are being treated as pets rather than office professionals. The LWESP team refused to bring back to the membership a proposal for a 1% increase for Year 1, a new schedule that makes you wait until 15 years in Year 2 and will result in red-circling of people who would lose salary with the District's offer, and no salary increase for Year 3. LWESP has proposed a salary schedule that will restore LWESP salaries to third place among area school districts and maintain third place.
Lake Washington pays some of the highest administrative salaries (see earlier blog and flyer), but they have fallen farther and farther behind their neighbors in paying office professionals. Chip Kimball talks about "tough economic times"; yet the district managed to find a way to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary increases and/or extra vacation days to central office administrators, principals, and non-represented groups. After paying out all this money, the District has the unmitigated gall to claim it cannot afford pay raises for LWESP. Horse puckey!
The District Team and the Superintendent had an opportunity to settle this Contract and go into next week with some positive news for the District and restore some trust in central administration. Once again, the District blew their chance. You will hear the same rhetoric next week about appreciation. To Chip Kimball we say, Show Me the Money!
ALL LWESP EMPLOYEES MUST ATTEND THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 4 AT 5:00 PM AT THE REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. AN IMPORTANT VOTE WILL BE TAKEN. YOUR LWESP BARGAINING TEAM IS COUNTING ON YOU TO BE THERE.
LWESP Bargaining Team
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Ok so we know the district can talk but not take action,we need to stick together as a unit and let the district know we are in for the fight and will not back down until we are heard. Please come to the meeting tomorrow even if you do not want dinner. We will have a lot of information to share with you and need to have a good showing of members so the district know everyone is united in this effort. Thank you
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