On Thursday evening, 4/1/21, REA and RSD held their second full-on bargain session.  The two sides tentatively agreed (TA'd) current language in the unopened articles: preamble, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25, and 29.  The District presented counters to Article 5 (Employee Rights), Article 8 (Emergency Closure), and Article 19 (Tuition, Project, and/or Workshop Reimbursement).

In Article 5 (Employee rights) the two sides were able to agree on new language in several areas except for paying bilingual teachers for translation of curriculum.  The Association maintains that members who engage in curriculum translation work should be paid at their full hourly rate and not at curriculum rate.   Translation of curriculum is a specialized skill that requires just as much, if not more effort, than any other responsibility members undertake.  Being paid at hourly rate is a matter of respect that REA will continue to ask of the District.  This article has been put aside for future negotiation.

In Article 8 (Emergency Closure) the District and Association were able to each agreement on language that facilitates a rapid and reasonable remedy for situations in which members fell unwell.  If a member feels unwell due to a circumstance or situation in their workplace, the member may speak with their immediate administrative supervisor and mutually agree upon a reasonable remedy (i.e., temporary relocation to another space in the building, seeing a health provider, or going home to recover).  This article is to be TA'd.

In Article 19 (Tuition, Project, and/or Workshop Reimbursement) The District and the Association were able to agree on new language providing clearer guidance and process around tuition reimbursements.  The reimbursement rates were adjusted to the PSU graduate rates for 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023.24 years.  The sides agreed to expand the definition of approved reimbursement for professional practices and not just instruction.  This gives greater latitude to specialists and others not in a traditional classroom role. The $250 professional organizations option was increased to $300. The new language improves opportunities for domestic travel and related expenses for attending workshops and conferences offered outside of Portland or the state of Oregon.  The District agreed to provide a mechanism for members to quickly and accurately see their available tuition accounts.  The District agreed to provide electronic response to tuition reimbursement requests within 10 working days of the requests.  The District agreed to send a reminder to members about submitting proof of course completion.  The District was unwilling to consider adjusting the tuition voucher program for members who host student teachers and that section (Section C) will remain at current language.  This article is to be TA'd

Next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 5:00 on 4/22/21.  The District will bring counters to articles; 7 (Employee Work Year), 18 (Student Discipline, 26 (Student Services), 27 (Class Workload), and 28 (Mentor Program)

In Solidarity!

​Your REA Bargain Team.

​Hello REA, 

Please join the REA Bargaining Team this Thursday, 1 April 2021 starting at 5:00 pm ​as they negotiate our next contract. This meeting's focus is on Articles 5 (Employee Rights), 8 (Emergency Closure), and 19 (Tuition, Project and/or Workshop Reimbursement). 

The REA Bargaining Team will also be providing data supporting our proposed salary increases. We do not, however, expect the district to have its initial proposal for salary increases at this time. You can find minutes from the last bargaining meeting by clicking HERE. 

Click here to join the Bargaining webinar. 

After both teams discuss their proposals they will go to caucus before returning to the table. During that time, REA will hold an all-member caucus to get feedback, hear concerns/suggestions, and answer questions. This caucus will not begin until the bargaining teams go to caucus. 

Click here to join the all-member caucus. 

We look forward to seeing everyone there! 

, with the exception of the initial "meet & greet."
REA and RSD are getting set to begin a new bargain process for the 2021/2022 school year contract and beyond. 
The RSD team includes: Rob Neu, Wade Bakley, Lisa McDonald, Tonya Pruett, Valerie Tewksbury and Rebecca Jourgeneson. 
The REA team includes: Joyce Rosenau, Bruce Marh, Molly Frye, Brian Jay, and Bruce Scherer.
Bargain sessions will all be held from 5:00-8:00pm and are open to membership viewing via zoom, with the exception of the first meeting which is "meet & greet."  Dates are as follows:
Thursday, 2/18/21 --- "meet & greet"
Thursday, 3/4/21 --- Initial Exchange
Thursday, 4/1/21
Thursday 4/22/21
Tuesday, 5/4/21
Tuesday, 5/18/21
Thursday, 6/3/21
Thursday, 6/17/21
Your REA Bargain Team

Articles not included in the tentative agreement will maintain current language from the 2017-2020 contract. Click on the link below to view the tentative agreement. Members will receive their electronic ballots at their personal email; please check your spam/junk folders if the email does not show up in your primary inbox.

062320__rea_package_proposal_for_ratficiation.pdf

BARGAINING UPDATE

Our bargaining team has had two side bar conversations with the district since the last bargaining session on June 4 to work on resolving the remaining issues. The district postponed last week's bargaining session due to having to take a possible agreement before the school board. The school board holds its regular business meeting of the month tomorrow @7:00 p.m. This will be a virtual meeting and can be viewed live here. This meeting will include a Budget Hearing at the top of the meeting. Want to make a public comment? Click here: To submit public comment, please use this form.

ANOTHER WAY TO ENGAGE
We will know if we have a tentative agreement with the district either tomorrow evening or Thursday morning. Your bargaining team will be hosting a webinar which will either be a Q&A to go over the tentative agreement or be another bargaining session should a tentative agreement not be reached. Your bargaining team will host the webinar this Thursday, June 25 @4:00 p.m. The Zoom link to the REA Bargaining webinar is here:

https://zoom.us/j/94216404313?pwd=bmJrSXl2MEJkL1gvTGQwM3VKMEIvdz09

Despite optimism going into the session, last night the RSD bargaining team squandered an opportunity to complete a deal:

1. COLA:         REA asked for a 2% COLA and RSD offered 1.5%, a cost of approximately $1,214,000 versus $910,500 for a difference of $303,500--- FAIRLY CLOSE.
2. Tuition:      REA initially agreed to a partial freeze on tuition reimbursement to save jobs and give RSD room to go up COLA.  At our last session RSD estimated the district savings to be $300,00.  Last night we learned there is already an ending tuition fund balance of approximately $215,000 for this year, and that next year RSD estimates savings of $200,000-400,000.  That comes to a total of potential savings for RSD of up to $615,000 versus $300,000--- NOT SO CLOSE….
3. Insurance: RSD had initially offered to increase the cap by $30 per month per member.  They also offered to maintain the annual contribution of $350,000 to the insurance pool.  REA had asked for some clarifying information on the exact amount of money in the pool, the longevity of the pool over the next three years, and what is the current estimated pool ending fund balance.  RSD provided this information and then abruptly changed their offer.  They apologized that they had misstated the offer of $30 per month per member increase in the cap, and that the cap needed to remain where it had been for 2019/2020.  This results in a $225,000 decrease in their initial offer.  They then proposed decreasing the standing practice of a $350,000 annual pool contribution to only $150,000 which is a decrease of $200,000.  Overall, RSD’s new insurance offer shrank by a total of $425,000--- NOT CLOSE AT ALL!

IN A NUTSHELL--- RSD is proposing compensation of $910,500 for COLA.  They are also proposing an overall decrease in compensation of up to $1,040,000 for insurance and tuition reimbursement.  This is a net loss of up to $129,500 and, at best, an offer of ZERO compensation.  RSD asks for REA to make sacrifices for our students but does not reciprocate.  RSD is double dealing.  You our members spoke loud and clear last night, and we will not bring you a contract offer that is unacceptable.

The teams have agreed to meet again next Thursday, 6/11/20, at 6:00PM.  It is the sincere hope of your bargaining team that RSD will show some sign of mutual sacrifice and/or goodwill before this next meeting.  There is a school Board meeting on Wednesday, 6/10/20, at 7:00PM.  The budget and potential cuts for next year will be discussed.  REA view’s this meeting as an excellent opportunity for the school board to demonstrate their good faith and make some sacrifices and re-visit some choices that could mitigate the direct impact to services and instruction for our students.

Bruce Marsh, Your C0-Bargain Chair

Below is the link to join the member caucus when the two teams are not in session:

​Topic: REA Member Caucus Zoom Meeting
Time: Jun 4, 2020 04:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89060827898?pwd=WExhOC9oQmdUT1FWYjhuU1NOenUzUT09

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94216404313?pwd=bmJrSXl2MEJkL1gvTGQwM3VKMEIvdz09

​Here is the zoom link to view the bargain session on 6/4:

​

Your Bargain Team met with RSD today to discuss possible furlough days.  Your team shared the following Memorandum of Understanding which the district received and discussesd.

Workweek Reduction for Remainder of 2020-2021 School Year
Memorandum of Understanding:
 
In response to the public health emergency and economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and because of the availability of state and federal resources that are available to employers and employees, Reynolds School District 7 and Reynolds Education Association agree to the following:

1. This memorandum shall not go into effect until Reynolds School District 7 is approved to participate in the Oregon Work Share program and until the memorandum is ratified by the members of the Reynolds Education Association.
2. Reynolds School District 7 shall reduce the hours of each bargaining unit member by up to 40% for each week, by furloughing two days a week spread out hourly, beginning on Monday May 25th, 2020. Compensation for bargaining unit members shall be reduced by up to 40% for each of these weeks ending June 12th, 2020.

Recommended dates are Thu. May 28, Fri. May 29, Thur. June 4, Fri. June 5, Mon. June 8, Tue. June 9.

1. Reynolds School District 7 shall continue to provide the same health insurance contribution and benefits to each bargaining unit member that it provided prior to this agreement.
2. Bargaining unit members shall not perform any duties during the furloughed days or hours.
3. With assistance from Reynolds School District 7, bargaining unit members shall file the paperwork necessary to receive unemployment payments under the Oregon Work Share program. 
4. Reynolds School District 7 shall allow, and assist when requested, all bargaining unit members to access all available government unemployment assistance, including that provided under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC) as set forth in the CARES Act.
5. The parties acknowledge Governor Brown’s waiver of Oregon’s one week waiting period for unemployment eligibility, thereby allowing bargaining unit members to be eligible for unemployment benefits beginning with the first reduced work week.
6.  All money saved by participating in the Work Share program will go directly back to certified, salaries, benefits, step increases, and negotiated pay increases. The funds may not go to fund any other programs or to increase staffing for 2020-2021.
7. Employees who are within 3 years of retirement, may opt out of the furloughed days by notifying Reynolds School District by emailing Robert Neu by Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
8. Reynolds School District shall pay the full contractual daily rate of pay, as if there had been no reduction in work hours, for any furloughed day in which a bargaining unit member did not receive Work Share unemployment benefits or FPUC compensation.
9. This memorandum shall expire on June 30, 2020.
10. This memorandum of understanding shall be null and void if the following conditions are not fully met by Reynolds School District.
    1. An immediate freeze on all professional development spending.
    2. An immediate freeze on all new / additional administrative FTE hires.
    3. The district agrees to spend down the ending fund balance down to 2% in order to support the 2020-2021 budget.
       

Negotiations will resume on Friday, 5/22, in closed session at 1:00.

Your Bargain Team