WATSONVILLE — Nearly three months after Pajaro Valley Unified School District teachers declared an impasse in contract negotiations with the district, the two sides have reached “tentative agreements” on several provisions, Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez stated on the district website.
But the sides are still locking horns on the question of teacher compensation.
The two sides are in the mediation phase of the impasse process, in which a neutral third-party mediator seeks to help find common ground. If unsuccessful, the negotiations will proceed to a “fact-finding” hearing.
The two sides will meet again on Monday.
The district has offered a one-time $3,200 bonus for all full-time employees, and $1,600 for part-time ones.
It has also offered a 2 percent salary increase for the 2017-18 year. This is contingent on the teachers agreeing to raising copays for doctor visits from $10 to $20, and by switching to generic prescription drugs, although the teachers would see no changes to premiums.
Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers has rejected that proposal.
“We don’t see that as a raise, we see that as cost-shifting,” PVFT President Francisco Rodriguez said.
The district has also offered a 6 percent increase for employees working in early childhood and adult education programs.
But Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers is also demanding a retroactive raise for the 2016-17 school year, which the district has long said it cannot afford.
According to Michelle Rodriguez, the retroactive raise would put the district in a “dire financial situation” by 2021.
“While we are committed to ensuring that our dedicated teachers continue to be competitively compensated, we must do so in a manner that is responsible with tax payer resources and ensures the financial stability of our educational community for the future,” she stated on the district website.
The teachers’ union contends that the district historically underestimates its ending fund balance, and keeps its reserves needlessly high when they could be used for such things as salary increases.
In 2016, for example, an estimated $19 million balance grew to $57 million by the end of the year, according to PVFT.
The teachers’ last proposal to the district was a $4,408 raise for all teachers, Francisco Rodriguez said.
“We understand the district may not at this time be able to afford the full amount, but we are certainly not prepared to accept a bonus that is not on the salary schedule,” he said. “We have been very clear about our goals. We’re hoping the district has an acceptable proposal when we meet on Monday.”
