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Upper St. Clair schools staff contract ratified
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School directors in Upper St. Clair School District this week approved a new, three-year pact between the district and the union representing custodians, mechanics, secretaries and other support personnel.
The Upper St. Clair Special Service Federation, representing 180 custodians, maintenance workers, mechanics, secretaries, aides and nutrition center employees, approved the new contract Saturday, while Upper St. Clair school directors unanimously voted to ratify the pact Monday.
The contract includes a wage freeze for all bargaining unit members in the 2012-13 school year and increases in 2013-14 and 2014-15 of 20 cents per hour for all members, except teacher aides who will receive increases of 25 cents per hour in each of the two years. The contract represents an average annual wage increase of about 1 percent in years two and three for all members.
The new agreement also establishes that employees will pay a portion of their health care premiums. The employee contribution is 4 to 5 percent of the cost of the entire premium beginning Jan.1. The employee contribution will increase to 5 to 6 percent in 2014.
Language changes in the new contract provide the district greater flexibility in the selection, scheduling and assignment of employees to meet staffing needs.
The union's last four-year pact expired at the end of August. Members have been working under the terms of that deal since September.
"We are very pleased with our agreement, given the present economic challenges the district faces," said district superintendent Patrick O'Toole.
First Published December 13, 2012 7:40 am
