Oswego Board Approves Four-Year Transportation Contract

Union employees in the Community Unit School District 308 Transportation Department have a new four-year contract that will take them from July 1 through June 30, 2018.

The Board of Education approved the Oswego Transportation Association (OTA) contract, which is retroactive to the beginning of the month, on Wednesday.

The new contract includes a 2.5 percent salary increase for the first year and a 1.75 percent increase for the remaining three years of the contract for all OTA employees.

Board of Education President Bill Walsh was extremely pleased with the resolution of the contract, and what it means for the entire School District 308 community.

“The Board of Education is very excited to have approved the OTA four-year agreement,” Walsh said in a press release. “As a result of the OTA and District collaborative efforts, enhancements to the current busing service for the 13,000 plus students who benefit from district transportation will be implemented for the 2014-15 school year. This cost-neutral contract is a wonderful result for the entire district community.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Wendt was also pleased with the resolution of the contract.

“I am happy to have a contract in place that balances fair and competitive wages for union employees with the financial realities facing the Transportation Department and the district,” Wendt said. “This is a contract that will serve all parties well for the next four years.”

School District 308 Director of Transportation Derrick Berlin said he is very pleased with the contract.

“Working in partnership with the Oswego Transportation Association, we established an agreement that enhances customer services, refines efficiencies and is supportive of our professional staff,” stated Berlin. “I am proud to work with an association that is committed to the education of all School District 308 students.”

OTA members approved the new contract by a 100-11 measure. The previous contract ran from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2014. That contract called for a 1.5 percent salary increase for each year of the contract.

OTA employees are responsible for about 70 percent of the transportation services that the district provides its students. The remainder is contracted through First Student.

OTA President Alex Wallace said he is happy with the new contract and the outcome of the negotiations.

“Everybody feels like it is a good contract,” Wallace said. “We have a good working relationship with management. We are happy it is over with.”