[Editor’s Note: Mr. Mielke is president of the Culver City Federation of Teachers/the Teachers Union.]
Friends:
Your CCFT bargaining team met again with the School District’s Management team on Monday.
We are close to a settlement.
As you know, prior to Monday we had already bargained:
- 2 percent salary increase, retroactive to the beginning of this school year.
- Application of that and further increases to “all schedules and rates,” beginning July 1.
- Conceptual agreement for raises large enough to move us to the median in L.A. County within five years.
- Continuation of the “meeting-free” Wednesdays to provide additional elementary prep time.
- Establishment of a new department and department chair stipend : Nursing.
- Addition of one fulltime nursing position to address caseload issues.
- Creation of joint labor/management committees on evaluation and class size.
At Monday's session, the parties agreed:
- To eliminate the five-year waiting period for veteran teachers new to CCUSD, allowing for immediate salary schedule movement. (Just a few years ago, this was a 10-year waiting period.)
- To increase the elementary SDC IEP preparation days from five to seven – with a clarification that the days are to be taken on-site.
- That CCUSD will provide bargaining unit members with vision care through VSP as our primary vision provider.
- To address health and welfare benefits in September, prior to the open enrollment period in October
A brief word on benefits: CCUSD has acknowledged that we need to address benefits' issues. But since we are in the early stages of analyzing our benefit programs, they have asked that we postpone additional talks on benefits until September. We are trying to determine if the programs currently offered are providing the most bang for the buck. Once that analysis is completed, the parties will return to the table to bargain benefits increases.
Finally, two items are being fine-tuned and are close to resolution:
- We are bargaining a job description, procedures and compensation for teachers asked to serve as the Administrative Designee when the principal is off-campus.
- We are bargaining that CCUSD charge CCFT a lower rate for union business release time.
When these last issues are resolved, we'll sign a tentative agreement and put the settlement out for a ratification vote. This is real progress. If you have questions or concerns, please check in with me or any other member of our bargaining team: Carmen Campos, El Marino; Tayo Balogun, CCMS; or Casey Chabola, Lin Howe.
P.S. The partnership that we have developed with new Supe Dave LaRose and his management staff has resulted in a completely different bargaining dynamic. Thanks to Dave and his staff for embracing this positive and collaborative approach, and thanks to you for your continued support.
Mr. Mielke may be contacted at davidmielke@ccusd.org
