Initial contract proposals exchanged between Burlington School District, unions

March 27--The Burlington School District has exchanged initial proposals with each of the collective bargaining groups whose members it employs in regards to master contracts and reached an agreement with three.

For some, this is the first negotiation process undertaken since the Legislature made sweeping changes to Iowa Code Chapter 20, which outlines the state's collective bargaining laws. The changes stripped all but base wage as mandatory bargaining items, but it allows some items, such as seniority and grievance procedures, to be negotiated upon so long as both parties agree to do so. Health insurance, staff reduction and transfer procedures, dues deduction and hours of work can be discussed in meet and confer-type situations, but they cannot be negotiated upon.

The changes have led school districts from throughout the state to transfer much of their master contracts into employee handbooks, some more so than others. The Burlington School District has transferred all permissive language into the handbook.

"Because of changes of House File 291," the district's initial proposals to each of the three American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees chapters begins, "the district agrees to collectively bargain base wages, the only mandatory subject required under Chapter 20 of Iowa Code."

Some previous contract items, such as those regarding workplace safety, have been removed entirely because they already are addressed by state and federal laws, such as those enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Much of it -- save for grievance procedures, now are dealt with through a labor management committee consisting of administrators and staff -- has remained the same as it was when it was in the master contract.

The Burlington School Board Monday agreed to change contract language to state changes can be made to the handbook so long as employees are provided notice as well as an opportunity to discuss and provide input regarding proposed modifications. Prior to that, the district was able to modify the handbook at any time without notice, but board members were in agreement the language was inappropriate and harsh.

This was the first change made to the handbook since it was put in place in June.

Here's a look at each of the union's initial proposals:

Burlington Education Association

The Burlington Education Association, which represents the district's teachers and other certified staff, is requesting permissive language items be returned to a three-year master contract.

"These items include grievance procedures, employee work day, health and safety, employment and assignment, in-service training, seniority, planning time, vacations and holidays, overtime and job classifications," the proposal states.

The BEA also requests a flat 3 percent increase to the 2018-19 salary base. This would be an overall cost increase of $521,150 to the district. The BEA also requests an article dealing with wages and salaries be open to negotiations for the following two school years and that lane changes be in place for each of the three years the contract covers.

Additionally, the BEA wants the labor management committee to be reconfigured "starting with Iowa Public Employment Relations Board training on effective development and implementation of a collaborative LMC."

"The BEA wants to work collaboratively with the district to attract great teachers and retain its great teachers," said Tom Buckman, the BEA's negotiations chairman. "By having the IPERB training, the district would allow the teachers into the problem solving and collaboration to resolve issues and input to solutions to improve our school district."

Also in the BEA's proposal is to move lane movement into the master contract. Buckman said having this item in the contract will let teachers know they can commit to professional development and higher learning avenues knowing they will be compensated for investing in themselves.

The district's proposal is to increase base wage by 1 percent, or $350, for a one-year contract.

Buckman said the BEA is optimistic about this year's negotiations.

"We assume that they want to collaborate with the teacher to make our school district a better place to work," Buckman said. "I personally would be very surprised if the district doesn't make some changes and offer a binding master contract. Many teacher, community member and local leaders have all voiced input encouraging the elected board members to change back to a master contract for the past 10 months."

AFSCME

This is the first round of contract negotiations for AFSCME and Teamsters since changes were made to Chapter 20.

AFSCME Local 3671, which represents secretarial workers, and AFSCME Local 3490, which represents food service workers, proposed 3 percent increases for each of the next three years. The initial proposal put forth by AFSCME Local 3490, which represents custodial workers, requests 4 percent increases for each of the next three years.

Each of the proposals also requested "the remainder of the agreement remain status quo."

The district reached an agreement last week with each of the three AFSCME chapters to increase base salary by 1.8 percent and transfer permissive items into the handbook.

The district's original proposal was for a 1 percent increase.

Teamsters

Representing the district's bus drivers, Teamsters Local 238 put together its initial proposal much like it would have done prior to changes to Chapter 20, naming specific contract language it wants changed, some of it dealing with routes and bidding. Another item seeks to expand leave for family illness, bereavement and funerals to include "intimate household members such as domestic partners."

Attached to the proposal is a sheet of paper explaining Chapter 20 changes don't mean long-held negotiating relationships must end.

The district's proposal is similar to that presented to AFSCME locals, with a one-year agreement and a 1 percent increase to the hourly base wage of $17.64, bringing it to $17.82 per hour.

The BEA wants to work collaboratively with the district to attract great teachers and retain its great teachers. By having the IPERB training the district would allow the teachers into the problem solving and collaboration to resolve issues and input to solutions to improve our school district.

The Teamsters will meet with the district today to negotiate during a closed session.

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