LWESP Bargaining Update, September 27, 2013

Valued,        Respected,        Paid a Living Wage,                          Fair Treatment,         Fair Contract

Our LWESP bargaining team met with the District's negotiators from 5:00 p.m. until after 9:00 p.m. September 18th. The tone was cordial and professional. The message from District decision-makers, however, is mixed---

• We are told we are valued. We are told we are respected.
• Yet the District won't entertain our suggestions on how much money should be deducted from your monthly pay for your medical premiums. They don't seem to understand this is part of our overall compensation.

• We are told the District hears our concern that our employer doesn't pay a Living Wage.
• Yet, they won't actually talk about the research outlining how far behind we are, and they won't problem solve on beginning to make progress towards a Living Wage. Instead, the District insists on comparing your pay to what other classified K-12 public education staff earn, even though a Blue Ribbon Task Force appointed by the State (including Chip Kimball) has concluded you are underpaid.

• LWESP members who work in schools take care of students with seizures, concussions, broken bones, and less serious health issues. We dispense medication to students. We've explained the challenges of keeping students safe with inadequate health room staffing, inadequate and untimely training, and when the District's Health Reference Manual is unclear and not even provided to staff in all schools.

 We are told that student health and safety are important.

• And we're told, if you work in a school, it's your job to cover the health room and do all your other work, too. Period. 

Did we make progress on our concerns on the 18th? We are still working without a contract. We do not have a settlement. We will keep talking with the District's bargaining team. You will be getting a call from the LWESP bargaining Support Team. We heard from a large group of members on the 9th. We will want to hear from you again.

LWESP Update - September 13, 2013

"We Have Everyone's Back  -  Who's Got Our Back?"

We're sorry if you missed our Back-to-School Tailgate Party on Monday!  Over 50 LWESP members joined the fun. We had dinner, a raffle of jars of homemade organic jam, visited and commiserated with one another at this very busy time of year. Our LWESP bargaining Team also gave us an update on bargaining.

Members walked right over to the School Board meeting, and several spoke respectfully--but somberly--to the Board. LWESP President, Libby Boucher, thanked the Superintendent and Board for their work and described what LWESP members do for students, parents, principals, staff, the business office, HR, payroll, etc., to make the school year start off successfully.  "We have everyone's back. Who has our back?", she asked.

Speakers shared their stories of no pay increase year after year, this area's high cost of living, our need to earn a Living Wage, members' need to hold down second jobs, and the impact of escalating insurance costs that are passed on to you to pay. Former LWESP President, Lorraine VanKomen, pointed out that former LWSD Superintendent Chip Kimball and a statewide Task Force created by the Legislature recommended over a year ago that school districts and the State should pay classified staff far more than they do no.

We are working without a contract  -- again. We are absolutely committed to continuing talks, but decision-makers in the District still do not seem to understand that LWESP members need to make progress towards earning a Living Wage  -- too much ground has been lost to the cost of living.

• 2007-08 Cola from the State=3.7%*, Pay Increase from LWSD=0%, Seattle Consumer Price Index = 3.7%
• 2008-09 Cola from the State=5%*, Pay Increase from LWSD=0%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=3.9%
• 2009-10 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=1%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=4.2%
• 2010-11 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=0% **, Seattle Consumer Price Index=0.6%
• 2011-12 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=1%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=0.3%
• 2012-13 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=0%, Seattle Consumer Price Index=2.7%
• 2013-14 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=???, Seattle Consumer Price Index=2.5% ***
• 2014-15 Cola from the State=0%, Pay Increase from LWSD=???, Seattle Consumer Price Index=1.8% ***

*Although no COLA per se was provided, the State provided a differentiated increase for classified staff. For LWSD classified employees, those amounts are listed above.

**A new LWESP salary schedule took effect in 2010-11; however, there was no pay increase for all LWESP members that contract year. Consequently, many LWESP members received no pay increase in 2010-11.

***Estimated Consumer Price Index-Seattle

September 9, 2013

Dear LWESP Member,
Sorry you couldn't make the Tailgate Party! Members picked up the enclosed flyers -- we wanted you to get them, too.  Please--

• wear the ribbon and 000000 button that we sent you earlier. The zeroes represent the 6 years the State has failed to pay you a voter-approved Cost-of-Living increase. Didn't get one? Contact Libby Boucher or an LWESP Exec Board members!
• be sure to take your breaks and your Duty Free Lunch! Set the flyer on your desk when you do.
• post one of the other flyers in your car, in the parking lot at work -- you have the right to do so.
• post the other flyer on the LWESP Bulletin Board at your worksite / school. What, no bulletin board? Contact Libby Boucher or an LWESP Exec Board member to talk about setting one up!

Thank you for having the backs of everyone in the LW School Community!
Libby & the LWESP Team