Reynolds members, district reach settlement
Pushing back against harsh management tactics, members in Reynolds Chapter 37 stood together in solidarity and forced the school district to back down.
Through a series of informational pickets and other chapter actions that built strength and unity among members, Reynolds classified employees reached an agreement rolling back many of the takeaways the district had proposed.
The enthusiasm was evident as more than 200 members showed up for the contract ratification vote, asking smart questions and becoming more engaged with their union.
“To me, it was everything I could have hoped for,” OSEA Field Representative Timothy Welp said. Although he acknowledges the chapter still took some lumps, the agreement restores previously cut hours for secretaries, reduced furlough days, preserved some health insurance options and added a new top step, while gaining much needed wage increases for mechanic positions that were paid well under market wages.
Part of what drove Reynolds members to the streets in protest was the disproportionate treatment: District administrators enjoyed fully paid health care and received 3 percent cost-of-living increases, while effectively forcing classified employees to pay for them by absorbing cuts.
All salary ranges were elevated by 4.5 percent after the district agreed to drop the bottom step. In addition, the district agreed to add a new top step for employees who were already topped out. About half of the bargaining unit was on the top step and the district had held back step increases as a pressure tactic during bargaining. All economic improvements are retroactive to July 1.
“Our members felt disrespected and wanted the district to value the experience and length of service many of our members have,” Reynolds President Cindy Dominiak said.
“Reynolds workers took a real step forward demonstrating the power they have,” Welp added. “We had some real fun with our pickets and everybody walked away having had a pretty positive experience.”
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