USEP Impasse Update – Video

Impasse Update Video Transcript

Hello, I’m Kenny Blankenship, President of the United School Employees of Pasco.

On November 9th, after a round of bargaining, no movement from the district, and, apparently, no willingness on their part to contact the “decision makers at the District office,” USEP declared impasse as it seemed clear there were no intentions of responding to any of the proposals USEP put before them.

Since declaring impasse, USEP and the District have returned to the bargaining table twice.

In the last meeting USEP and the district came to agreement and signed language creating a Worksite Solutions Committee for SRP, Hour for Hour Comp Time for teachers who substitute during their planning, and a Memorandum of Understanding for Differentiated Accountability Schools. At that time the District did increase their offer of a 2.65% pay increase to 2.68%.

For Teachers, the items that remain on the table for impasse along with salary include:

• Contract Renewal language for Annual Contract Teachers who are rated as Effective or Highly Effective, and
• the district proposal to diminish Leave Rights in conjunction with Family Medical Leave Act

For SRP the items that remain on the table for impasse along with salary include:

• Transfer and reassignments based on district seniority; and
• Leaves of absence changes the district is seeking;

Unless another opportunity for meaningful progress at the bargaining table is possible, these are the contested items that will be decided by a Special Magistrate at an Impasse hearing.

We have sent a request for dates and are awaiting a confirmation of dates for the magistrate for the Impasse hearings for both the SRP and Teacher.

It currently looks like a late February date for the SRP, and Early March for teachers.

As soon as we receive a date we will let you know when and where the hearing will be conducted.

USEP Staff is in the process of preparing the documents for arguments to be made to the magistrates during the impasse hearing.

In the meantime, what we are asking Bargaining Unit members to do each week up through the impasse hearings is:

• Wear Red for Public Ed on Tuesdays, and Organize Walk In and Work the Contract Wednesdays at your school or worksite;
• Call and write your School Board members and advocate for a better salary increase and contract language;
• Call and Write the following School Board members using your personal email:
  • Alan Altman (Chair) (813) 794-5590 alaltman@pasco.k12.fl.us
  • Cynthia Armstrong (813) 794-3492 carmstro@pasco.k12.fl.us
  • Alison Crumbley (813) 794-3491 acrumble@pasco.k12.fl.us
  • Steve Luikart (813) 794-3493 jluikart@pasco.k12.fl.us
  • Colleen Beaudoin (813) 794-2140 crbeaudo@pasco.k12.fl.us
• Communicate with your family, friends, neighbors, and other Pasco County residents personally and through social media, and encourage them to call and write our School Board members;
• Write a Letter to the Editor advocating for fair contract language and pay that brings Pasco County School Employees compensation more in line with the surrounding counties in the Tampa Bay region;
• Have a friend or family member attend:
  • the February 7th School Board meeting at 9:30 AM to advocate on your behalf for fair contract language and pay that brings Pasco County School Employees compensation more in line with the surrounding counties in the Tampa Bay region;
  • the You attend the February 21st School Board meeting at 6:00 PM and advocate for fair contract language and pay that brings Pasco County School Employees compensation more in line with the surrounding counties in the Tampa Bay region;

USEP recognizes that this year’s contract bargaining has been lengthy, and perhaps no one knows this better than the volunteer members of our bargaining teams who have been involved since USEP and the District began negotiations back in April.

On June 4th, the Superintendent stated in the press, “We’re shooting for another 3% this year.”

Bargaining team members were dismayed when the District actually came to the table with an initial offer of 2.65%, and then returned after impasse with only 2.68%.

Our team is obligated to exhaust every avenue available to ensure the best settlements for both of our bargaining units.

Join us in this Effort – Call on our School Board members to
MAKE IT HAPPEN!