Assistants reach tentative deal
Posted: 4/11/02
by Aaron Tinklenberg
Staff Writer
Though it has yet to be ratified by union members or approved by the School Board, District 194 negotiators reached a tentative contract agreement April 2 with members of the Lakeville Educational Assistants Federation (LEAF).
Details will not be released until union members ratify the contract, which could happen as early as April 15. However, LEAF president Chris Scrabeck did say the deal was more favorable for union members than those reached in recent years that afforded 2 percent annual increases of the pay scale.
ìConsidering the increased costs of insurance, our members were really going backward in pay,î Scrabeck said. ìWe needed to stop that from continuing.î
Scrabeck said the union also focused on gaining pay equity with similar position in other nearby school districts.
ìI think this settlement will benefit both our members and the district,î she said. ìI think itís been harder to hire people when more attractive contracts were available other places. So on both sides this was important.î
LEAFís contract expired July 1, 2001, and negotiations between LEAF and the district began last fall, but, according to Scrabeck, several factors contributed to the delay in reaching a settlement. In particular, Scrabeck noted the fall bond referendum, which took a considerable amount of time to organize and made negotiation meetings difficult to schedule.
District 194 Administrative Services Director Tom Coughlin added that each contract negotiation period has its own personality. Some of them, he said, simply last longer than others.
ìWeíve had negotiations that are as short as two sessions and weíve had some that last 15 months,î Coughlin said. ìThis year seems to be a very difficult negotiation year among schools in general.î
Debi Smeltzer, a special education secretary in District 194 and member of LEAF, said she felt the settlement showed that district officials recognized the important role her unionís members play in providing education.
ìItís not just the teachers that teach,î Smeltzer said. ìWe have a lot of great programs in this district. But we wouldnít be able to have them without LEAF support.î
Members of LEAF include the districtís paraprofessionals, health assistants, tutors and clerical workers. About 300 employees are represented by the union.
Coughlin said the contract, if ratified by LEAF members, would likely be submitted for approval at the April 23 School Board meeting, though it could be added to the agenda of a special meeting prior to that date.
Top of Page
