Pasco employees, district agree to delay step increases

Citing too many unanswered questions about the district's finances, the United School Employees of Pasco has agreed to the school district administration's request to postpone payment of workers' step increases for years of service. But the association insisted on bringing the issue back to the table no later than Aug. 10.

"We'd like to at least have some conversations before everybody goes back to school," USEP negotiator Jim Ciadella told his district counterpart during negotiations this afternoon.

Without action, the steps would have taken effect with the start of the new fiscal year tomorrow (July 1). 

USEP president Lynne Webb said she had fielded many phone calls from workers worried that they cannot afford a second straight year without steps, not to mention raises. Yet she explained that it did not seem prudent to the bargaining team to make proposals that might not be able to be paid for.

"We want to give ourselves time so our conversations will be more meaningful," Webb told the Gradebook.

During the time the steps remain off the table, the USEP plans to investigate how the district will use its federal stimulus funding. It also will explore the School Board's plans regarding a possible local tax increase of 0.25 mills, which the union supports.

Kevin Shibley, the district's lead negotiator, accepted the USEP's suggested date to resume conversations about the steps.

"We think it's even more rigid than what we put on the table," he said. "We're okay with that."

Jeff Solochek, Times Staff Writer

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Comments

[Susie]

publicschoolteacher:

because Solochek is on vacation

[publicschoolteacher]

Why wasn't this article posted on the Gradebook page as well?

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/article1016562.ece

[Thinkaboutit]

If you drop the Union what will you have? You will become a moocher on those who pay their dues. You reap the benefits of the Union, you should be supporting the cause.

In good years no one complained, are you a quitter when times get tough?

Think about it.

[Outside the box]

Look at things this way. We are in a recession and teachers are in limbo with knowing whether or not they will have a job or not. The district is still considering whether or not there will be layoffs. Property values are down and the list goes on. I am not saying lets pack up and go home, but come on with teachers without jobs and the economy in such disarray, "what more can we demand". If I had to choose, I choose hands down insurance and my job.

I commend the bargaining team and all of the Union members. They are fighting for our rights and if more complainers were dues paying members maybe the Union would be stronger.

Remember what happened to Ray Gadd without the Union you are at risk of becoming unemployed without explanation. Support the Union and United we will stand!!!

[terminator]

union lackey teacher:
if you have to ask me those questions then you guys don't really know what you're doing.
get real, every district in the state is doing the same thing because they think they can get away with it and probably will.
why is that you ask? probably because we have too many so called "union leaders" who aren't really there to represent the teachers and SRP but more to butter their own bread, make nice with the board/Sup't and play the game known as "business as usual" which usually leads to the rank and file getting screwed.
What can you do? First hire a FEFP budget expert to tear apart the district's budget. Second, file lawsuit after lawsuit against the district when they don't respond to your requests for information. File unfair labor practice complaints with PERC and the feds. Contact your Bay area Congressmen and ask for their assistance in ascertaining exactly how much money (and for what purposes) the money can be spent.
Lastly, it's called grow a set and start being more aggressive. Let HF and the board members know that unless your demands are met BEFORE school starts, the union will MANDATE a work to the contract edict on all bargaining unit employees.
Then of course you can do all the usual stuff like daily demonstrations and protests at every school site across the district.
I would recommend you rally your teachers to storm the school board meetings with hundreds (if not thousands of angry teachers).
Lastly, consult the Teamsters playbook. There are certain things that can be done that are "outside of the box".

[FSM]

It seems ironic that the union is being blamed for HF's lack of candor about finances.

I don't think that the union really supports her.

[Union Lackey Teacher!]

Hey Termie,
In your infinite wisdom, what do you suggest that the USEP Bargaining Teams do with the lack of information and unanswered questions, or continuously changing information that the District keeps feeding us about the numbers from the budget/Federal Funds/State Funds/etc. etc. etc. This has been their MO last year and this year. The year before, Terry Rhum withheld and refused to discuss finances until he had addressed what Heather wanted the most. This year it's Kevin Shibley doing her dirty work for Instructional and Brian Jack for SRP.

The rest of you, I don't see you at the negotiating table with the rest of us Regular Teachers and SRP. Where are/were your great ideas for negotiations when they were called for. If you want to complain, come and give us some help at the table, get busy motivating the membership to rally and work the contract, go to the School Board meetings and speak out, write letters to the editor, etc. etc. etc.

[terminator]

get it straight:
drop the crack pipe and put down the bottle of ripple.

the state budget has been done since May 5th (where have you been)?

the federal stimulus dollars have already been included (where have you been)?

the .25 mills money is there (where have you been)?

the only outstanding issue(s) are how much money will be generated by the RLE and TRIM notices delivered to property owners and whether or not Pasco opts to levy an additional .25 mills.

lesson # 1 in bargaining: you never start from a position of weakness.

get into rehab you union lackey and start doing your job!

[Jaymz]

Better working conditions? How about better living conditions such as a raise!

[publicschoolteacher]

I wouldn't call it "jumping to conclusions." I would call it "history repeating itself."

[Get it straight Teacher]

As negoiations begin, it has
become standard practice to
delay paying step increases
until more information is available on the budget and
state legislature. The key
word of the article is
DELAY discussions on steps.
Not to give up on them entirely! All you jump to
conclusion bloggers! Shame
on you! The USEP Union is
fighting for steps and better
working conditions for all
Pasco County school employees!
United we stand together,
dont slam those who are fighting for us.

[Union member]

We need a new union president. Ms. Webb seems to be having too many lunches with HF. If the USEP rep at the table, who doesn't have a clue, is the best we can do... there sure won't be any cost of living raise and the writer before is right, get ready to shell out more $ for benefits. Ms Webb you've got till winter break to get the step increase and no benefits cost increase or you'll have one less active USEP member.

[ter]

9:35
where is all the federal stimulus money going?

where is the .25 mill money going?

where is the class size money going?

how many DROP/double dipper
administrators have been let go?

how many TSA's/reading coaches/program specialists have been re-assigned to classroom teaching duties?

can you honestly say Pasco (and other school districts) are going to maintain class sizes this year? you know as well as I do they will simply pocket all this money and whine "we're broke".

you are an idiot sir! must be union lackey.

[Lou]

Yes indead the Union is a joke. Again we will get nothing. In fact, I'm willing to bet the union agrees to us paying a portion of our insurance (pay cut) and says "we had to do it to save jobs. You saved jobs last year now is the time for my pay to keep up with the increases in everything else. It is time for the union to stop being an extention of the board

[SickOfIt]

With USEP dues almost $25 a paycheck, I am dropping out and that will be my step increase right there. I am tired of the non-support. I remember a few months back when USEP pushed through their raises and said teachers would understand. I sure did. I understood right where my dues were going. Let's all get out and see if they can operate on a lower budget.

[DUH]

I already made alternative financial plans....drop all extra curricular events that pay me nothing, thereby increasing my hourly average salary.....

my excuse....I have a second job so I can put food on the table to make up for the lack of step increase in 2 years...ADMIN cannot fault me for that if I do not show up to the OPEN HOUSE, school sporting events, etc.....and if parents/students ask....I have a second job because I need to pay for my own kids to go to college first....educate others' kids second.

....drop union dues...again increase my take home pay....

.....drop school board family insurance plan($750 per month) for lower family premium through outside health insurance co....

....take the health insur. opt out of $1200 per year.....

Done my financial planning for a second year in a row.......anyone following my lead?....

Probably not...teachers are usually good sheep...BAHHHH....

[Ben]

Three words for all Pasco teachers:
DROP THE UNION.

[publicschoolteacher]

Now that we have agreed to delay them, we have no hope of getting them back. Looks like another year with no step increase, folks. For those of you who have 10 years or less served, this will add up to well over $10,000 during the course of your career.

I respect the union a great deal, but I am to the point where I have to look out for my family. Let the layoffs happen if need be. Gas, taxes, and health benefits are climbing. I need my step to keep up! (Yes, I live within my means, but when the economy inflates and my salary stagnates, there's a bit of a problem...)

[Dawn]

When teachers are losing their jobs, we can't afford to staff the schools we have, why the hell are 2 more being built in Hudson? Before we build more schools we need to resolve the budget situation in the existing ones. The money hasn't already been spent it has been allocated. Well spend it where it will do the most good. Keeping our teachers in their classrooms! All the money set aside for those 2 schools would greatly reduce the budget issues for the existing ones. It's time to stop being frivilous and learn to make do!

[get real termie]

The only people who would have benefited from not agreeing to postpone steps at this time are administrators. Maybe it would have been fun to let them have the extra money now and then have to repay it later, but ...

[terminator]

what a bunch of schmucks!

with a union like that who needs a union?

can you say "bend over, grab your ankles and thank you sir may I have another"?

looks like no raises for you Pasco folks this year (again). I say, give yourself a raise by getting out of the Pasco union.