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