Bradford school bus drivers are working under a new three-year
contract which provides a minimum of 3.25 percent pay increase in
each year.
Custodians, also working under a new three-year bargaining
agreement, will see their hourly pay rates go from $13.84 this
year, $14.40 next year, and $15.05 in the final year.
Details of labor contracts for these union workers were released
by the Bradford Area School District at the end of August.
The contracts were ratified in May by the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees which represents 34 bus
drivers, short-run drivers, mechanics, helpers, maintenance
personnel and truck drivers.
A separate labor pact was approved by the 23 custodians
represented by Local Union 110 of the Teamsters, Chauffeurs,
Warehousemen and Helpers.
Both contracts went into effect July 1 of this year and will run
until June 30, 2009. Both contracts also include a clause which
would permit the school district to enter into a contract with an
outside contractor after the existing contract expires.
Bus drivers – except for mechanics – will see 4 percent pay
increases the first two years beginning this school year and a 3.25
percent increase the last year of the contract.
Mechanics will receive a $1 rate adjustment this first year, a 4
percent increase to the base rate the second year, and a 3.25
percent increase the third and final year.
Base rate for the bus drivers begins at $13.90; short run
drivers, $13.90; mechanics, $14.76; helpers, $9.54; maintenance
personnel, $14.64; and truck drivers, $13.90.
Meanwhile, the labor package for custodians includes an
additional 35 cents per hour for those working the second turn, and
those on third turn are to receive an additional hourly amount
determined after a meet-and-discuss session.
Custodial employees are also eligible for a longevity bonus, the
contract says. For years between 20 to 25 of service, employees
become eligible to receive $500; 26 to 30 years, $1,000; more than
31 years, $1,500 bonus.
Each contract calls for health insurance for those working 25 or
more hours per week. The 2006-07, 2007-08 plans include a charge of
7.5 percent of actual cost of premium after credit for individual
coverage is applied.
The coverage is Blue Cross, Blue Shield and Blue Cross Major
Medical family plan.
For individual coverage, the district will pay $4,342 in
premiums with no charge to the employee.
Parent and child coverage includes a cost to the district of
$10,230 and for the employee $442 per year; for parental and more
than one child, the district will pay $10,645 while the employee
contributes $473; a husband and wife plan will cost the district
$12,339 while the employee contributes $600; a family plan costs
the district $13,002 leaving the employee to pay $650 per year.
For 2008-09, both the custodians and bus drivers will pay 10
percent of the actual cost after individual coverage cost has been
deducted.
Regular full-time employees of custodial services and bus
drivers will also be eligible to enroll in a dental program through
the district. The plan includes basic dental needs for family or
individual coverage.
Deductible for medical coverage in the Major Medical deductible
is $250/$500.
If an employee chooses not to be covered under the school
district health insurance plan for an entire calendar year, or
January through December, the district will pay the employee $1,500
at the end of that calendar year.
The bus drivers’ and custodians’ contracts also say that any
employees rated as satisfactory and those who have had no
preventable accidents would receive a $200 bonus at the end of the
school year.
Employees under both contracts are also allowed 11 paid
holidays.
Also in both contracts, it is stated that after one year,
employees are able to take two weeks paid vacation; after nine
years, three weeks paid vacation; after 15 years they will be
allowed four weeks paid vacation time.
Sick leave for full-time bus drivers begins with hours in
comparison to their hours on bus runs plus an additional 10 days.
Maintenance personnel and mechanics receive 12 sick days per year.
Bus drivers also get two emergency days and two paid personal
days.
Unused sick leave for bus drivers will be valued at $18 per day
to a maximum of $1,800 at the time a full-time employee covered by
the agreement retires and qualifies for retirement benefits.
Custodians receive 12 days of sick leave and three personal
days, according to their contract.
Unused sick leave for custodians will have a value of $20 per
day to a maximum of $2,500 at the time an employee retires and
qualifies for retirement benefits.
The most recently unionized workers in the Bradford Area School
District – secretaries, aides and other support personnel – are
working under a contract which will provide them with a 4.49
percent increase in pay this year.
The employees, members of Bradford Education Support Personnel
Union, are now in the third year of a five-year pact which went
into effect July 1, 2003.
The labor agreement is one of several recently released by the
school district in response to a request by The Era.
The support personnel are represented by one of four unions
under contract with the school district. Most recently, the
teachers have agreed to a new contract and its details are expected
to be announced after it is reduced to written form.
In 2002, support personnel agreed to join the Pennsylvania State
Education Association and formed the Bradford Education Support
Personnel union. Its first contract went into effect July 1, 2003,
and will expire June 30, 2008.
The contract breaks down individual workers by job and pay
scale.
This school year, 12-month secretaries are receiving wages of
$14.09 per hour. That figure goes to $14.69 the following year.
Secretaries who work 10 months will receive $11.96 per hour this
year; and $12.50 an hour next year.
Secretaries who work 180 days will receive $11.96 per hour this
year, and $12.50 per hour next year.
Accounting clerks are earning $14.35 per hour this school year
and $15 next year.
PC Field Technicians will receive $15.36 per hour this school
year and $16.13 next year. Aides for multi-handicapped individuals
receive $9.57 per hour this school year and $10 per hour next year.
Hourly wages of nurses aides and licensed practical nurses are
$16.46 this year, $17.28 next year.
For general aides, the hourly wage is $8.97 this year; and $9.38
next. Cafeteria/latch key aides are at $8.38 per hour this year,
and $8.75 next year.
The athletic director secretary stipend for 2006-07 is $2,200,
the contract states.
The labor agreement also spells out longevity bonuses: $500 for
those with 25-29 years service; $1,000, for those with 30-34 years;
$1,500, between 35 and 39 years; and $2,000 for those with more
than 40 years of service.
The contract also provides health insurance benefits for
employees scheduled to work 25 or more hours a week.
The district contributes up to the equivalent of all but the
following amounts of the premium costs for Blue Cross Blue Shield
and Blue Cross Major Medical family plan currently in effect:
* For this school year for individual coverage, the employee
will pay 10 percent of the actual cost to the maximum of $250 per
year; for family/group coverage, 10 percent of the actual cost up
to a maximum of $310 per year.
* In 2007-08, for individual coverage, the employee will pay 10
percent of the cost up to a maximum of $300 per year and for
family/group coverage, the employee will pay 10 percent of the
actual cost up to a maximum of $360 per year.
The school district also provides a basic dental plan for
individual and family coverage.
Vacation time is provided as follows: after one year, 10 days;
after nine years, 15 days; and after 15 years, 20 days.
Secretaries and aides are also provided with 11 paid holidays
within the contract.
Twelve month, full-time employees are eligible for 12 paid sick
days a year, those who work less than 12 months are eligible for 10
paid sick days.
Unused sick leave, if an employee has a minimum of five years of
district service will be reimbursed at the rate of $18 per day up
to a maximum of 125 days.
