Win highlights interest-based bargaining
Seven OSEA-represented classified employees in Centennial School District will receive back pay totaling more than $12,000 resulting from misclassification of promoted employees.
Employees such as custodians who had been promoted to higher-paying positions like maintenance had not been receiving the full amount of increased pay specified in the contract. Past practices had resulted in Centennial placing employees promoted to trades positions on the incorrect step on the salary scale. OSEA became aware of the issue when a member notified now-former Centennial Chapter 113 President Vicki Nelson about the discrepancy. Nelson pursued a solution with zeal.
OSEA and Centennial negotiated a settlement retroactive to the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, with employees receiving back pay ranging from $900 up to $2,500 per person.
“It was a long process, but perseverance pays off,” Nelson said.
“I found that interest-based bargaining created a safe atmosphere for people to agree and disagree,” new chapter president Gabriella Cook added. “I believe we, as a group, worked hard to come up with solutions that would benefit both parties.”
Field Representative Shawna Harris described the process as collaborative problem-solving.
“The district was trying to do right by people once the practice was brought to their attention,” Harris said.
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