Kelso, Washington School District Headed to Mediation
Wednesday, September, 23, 2015
Teachers from the Kelso School District and the District are headed to mediation. The session will last three days and be an effort to resolve contract disputes between the two groups. The three sessions will be overseen by a representative from the Public Employment Relationships Commission.
The teachers’ collective bargaining agreement expired on June 30 and the district and teachers union have been at odds ever since. The majority of problems stem from salary issues.
Kelso Education Association, the union that represents about 300 teachers from the district, decided it would launch “informational picketing” if the district was unwilling to continue negotiations. With mediation talks scheduled, representatives from the union said they will postpone picketing for now, but proceed if mediation is unsuccessful. A strike has been authorized, but no official walkout is planned. An unfair labor practices complaint against the district has also been prepared.
The district is accused of imposing a new work schedule without the union’s consent. The union also believes efforts to negotiate a new contract have been disrespectful to teachers thus far and that teacher resources have been used unwisely.
The district wants a three year deal, but the union wants only a one year deal because there is uncertainty about the state budgeting of school finances. The district wants to limit teachers to a 1.67% raise within a single year with no additional increases in the contract. This raise goes above and beyond the 3% cost of living raise and 1.8% raise already approved for 2016. The union claims the district is asking teachers to do more work without additional compensation. The union also wants seven extra paid days of leave