Alameda Unified and CSEA 860 Reach Tentative Agreement

Announcement submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

Negotiators for the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) and the California School Employees Association Chapter 860 (CSEA 860) have reached a tentative agreement in their negotiations over salary and other contract considerations.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, members of CSEA 860 (which includes custodians, maintenance, and food service employees) will receive an on-going 5% raise in salary starting in 2015-2016. Members will also receive a one-time bonus of $330.00, which will be payable within two months of ratification. The CSEA 860 union will retain the right to re-negotiate the salary in 2016 and 2017 as well as open two additional articles in the contract.

AUSD and CSEA 860 also agreed on conducting a job study which will cover all job classifications (custodial, maintenance, and food service employees), revised the evaluation document, and updated the transfer and job posting process.

The two teams began formal negotiations in April of 2015. They have met five times since then. The next step is for CSEA 860 members and AUSD’s Board of Education to vote on whether to ratify the agreement.

AUSD, the Alameda Education Association (the teachers union), and CSEA 27 (representing paraprofessionals, office workers, and clerical workers) also signed tentative agreements just last month.

Frank Muñoz, President of Alameda CSEA 860 Blue, said, “I am thankful to the members of our negotiating team who put in hard work to reach this agreement. I believe this agreement is a fair agreement for all sides.” Members of the team were Miguel Quintero, Mike Burns, Andrew Lockwood, and Tracy Hobbs.

“I am delighted AUSD and CSEA 860 have reached a preliminary agreement here,” said Superintendent Sean McPhetridge. “I am heartened knowing we will now offer our custodians, maintenance, and food service workers a well-deserved raise. I am proud of our work together to turn the page and work toward improved relationships with our different bargaining units in Alameda, and I am happy to say that this is the first time since 1997 that we have been able to conclude our contract negotiations with all of our bargaining units before our contracts with them lapsed. Thus, this is a historic and momentous occasion, and I look forward to us hopefully now maintaining this great spirit of respect, teamwork, and cooperation.”

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