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DeLand, FL – Both sides return to the bargaining table as Volusia’s teachers’ union and the public school district continue to try to broker a new deal in what has been a contentious contract negotiation process.
Volusia County Schools and the Volusia Teachers Organization will meet at DeLand High School for a scheduled 3-hour session starting at 5 PM Monday. This session – like all the others – are open to the public and the school district has been posting videos of the meetings online on its website (click here).
VTO President Andrew Spar has been outspoken about how unhappy he and many union members are with the way the district has handled negotiations, saying that VCS leaders and Volusia County School Board members don’t seem too willing to bargain.
“I’m not optimistic,” Spar added. “We feel that they have said [that] this is all they’re willing to do, which is no salary increase this year [and] a $12 million cut in insurance benefits next year which would come out of the pockets of employees.”
Spar claims that VCS has the money to “take care of its teachers” and that the district’s current position isn’t going to make Volusia County very attractive to teachers moving forward. He also slammed the School Board for having the “wrong priorities” and for not living up to its promises.
VTO and VCS took most of the last school year to reach a deal, with teachers working without a contract in the meantime. Many VTO members at one point refused to work past their mandatory hours and organized protests wherever the School Board met, especially after VCS formally declared an impasse in negotiations.
That deal saw current teachers get an average of 2.78% in raises retroactive to July 2014, which school district officials said at the time was the 2nd highest raise in the state for public school teachers. Beginning teacher pay was bumped to $37,000 and state-mandated performance pay was also established for teachers.
This year’s negotiations have mainly started out the same way it did last year, with VTO calling for a “work to the contract” and organizing protests. Monday’s negotiations comes on the heels of a week-long VTO-led walk-in protest at all county public schools.
District officials say VTO and the Volusia Educational Support Association – the union that represents those who work with special needs kids, the school district’s clerical staff and teacher aides – have rejected offers that would see their members get raises starting in July.
In related news, VCS announced on Thursday that a preliminary 2-year bargain was struck with the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. That’s the union that represents over 1,200 workers in support positions, including bus drivers, school advisors and cafeteria workers.
That deal, according to VCS Superintendent Tom Russell, will see those employees get 3.5% raises starting in July 2016, increased supplemental longevity pay and increases in cafeteria assistant and manager pay that’s more in line with neighboring school districts.
“We are very pleased with this settlement and the good faith efforts of both bargaining teams,” Russell added. “This is a step in the right direction to get the district’s financial house in order and at the same time provide raises for our deserving employees.”
AFSCME agreed to the district’s demand to have the health insurance subsidy for those in single coverage capped to $482.30 a month and to pay more for higher-valued plans. The $20 cost for single coverage health insurance will be maintained until the end of June 2016. Also being kept is full-time health insurance benefits for part-time employees that work 4 or more hours per day.
AFSCME workers would receive the same raise and health insurance subsidy cap as VTO and VESA members if either union gets a better deal from the school district.
The agreement is subject to a ratification vote by AFSCME employees and the School Board. That’s expected to take place February 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.