PUSD Approves Tentative New Contract with Classified Employees

The Poway Unified School Board on Thursday approved a tentative new contract with its classified employees union that cuts members' salaries by 4 percent in the coming fiscal year.

The Board also rescinded a March vote that imposed an eight-day work year cut on the union before contract negotiations began.

The union—Poway School Employees Association (PSEA)—still must ratify the contract before the board can give final approval in August. PSEA President Lynette Turner said though the agreement isn't everything union members may want, it's the "absolute best" contract the union can get in this economy and she's satisfied

The 4 percent salary reduction is coupled with eight rollback days—paid days off for the employees—comparable to the pay cut other unions agreed to for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school years. PSEA's cut will only apply to the 2011-12 school year, which both Turner and Bill Chiment, the associate superintendent of personnel support services, acknowledged may cause friction with the other unions.

The salary reduction is expected to save the district about $1.1 million.

The reduction replaces the previously approved eight-day cut imposed on the union in March as officials tired of waiting for the union to either accept is contract proposal or offer up one of its own. The eight-day cut was approved as a layoff, meaning the employees' work years would be shortened into the future unless the board took action to restore the days. The new reduction agreed to Thursday only lasts for the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The March vote ignited tension between the two sides because it was not negotiated. The new contract requires the district to meet with the union before imposing an across-the-board cut like the March layoff.

Turner said the PSEA Board would vote on the contract Thursday night, and voting packets would go out to the membership starting Friday. Voting will end July 18, with results announced July 19, she said.

Chiment said negotiations began April 22 and included 10 sessions.