Board ratifies last of employee contracts

By Michelle Ku

Months of contract negotiations have come to an end for the Cupertino Union School District.

Last week, the school board ratified the contract with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)--the union representing approximately 190 workers, including janitors, gardeners, food service and skilled trade employees. SEIU, the last of the three unions to settle, ratified the contract on May 18.

"We ratified [the contract] with a strong vote in favor," Alan Moore, the chief negotiator for the skilled trade workers' union.

Representatives of the district and union feel the contract is fair to both parties involved.

"I feel good about [the contract] and I think they do too," said Pat DeMarlo, assistant superintendent of human resources.

The skilled trade workers' union agreed to a multi-year contract running through the 2000-2001 academic years.

This year, the union is receiving a 5-percent increase to the salary schedule retroactive to October, costing the district only 4.5 percent.

Next year's salary increase will be based on the state's COLA (Cost Of Living Increase). During the 2000-2001 school year, salary can be re-negotiated if either the district or union chooses to.

The financial package offered to the skilled trade workers' union was similar to the one accepted by the teachers' union and the classified union, DeMarlo said.

In addition to negotiating salary, the starting date of the contract was changed. Beginning with the 1999-2000 school year, the contract shifts from beginning on September 1 to July 1.

"When you look at the possibility of every article being open, we really had very few changes to the total contract because we have a good contract," DeMarlo said.

The district had been negotiating with the unions since the beginning of the academic year.

An impasse was declared between the teachers' union, Cupertino Education Association, and the district in February. Soon after, the California School Employees Association, the classified union representing the 265 secretaries, clerks and instructional aides, and the trade workers' union also ended inan impasse with the district.

All three unions declared an impasse regarding the district's proposed 3.55 percent salary increase.

"I think we got our settlement and agreement with the board, but the process we went through to get to the agreement was unpleasant," said Earl Gifford, resident of the district's skilled trade workers' union.

The teachers' and classified unions settled with the district in April.

"It was long and difficult, but we do have an agreement," DeMarlo said. "We have agreements with all three unions that are good and solid and are three-year agreements. I think if there had been any really heavy duty problems, we would have had three-year agreements."

DeMarlo added, "I'm happy for all the unions and for the district."

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