Posted: 12/11/02

School mechanics, bus drivers settle contracts

Bus drivers and mechanics in ISD 831 are now working under new two-year employment contracts.

The school board on Monday, Dec. 2 ratified contracts with the two labor groups as recommended by the administration. Both agreements were reached with the assistance of state mediation.

Members of the two labor groups had previously voted to accept the new contracts.

Both employee groups are represented by Minnesota Teamsters Public and Law Enforcement Employees Union Local 320.

Bus drivers

Bus drivers will receive salary improvement of 2.25 percent in each year of the two-year deal. The contract year for bus drivers begins on Labor Day. The new contract is retroactive to Labor Day 2002 and continues until 2004.

Along with the two-year 4.5 percent salary improvement, drivers will be allowed insurance benefits amounting to 2.78 percent in year one and 2.47 percent in year two.

Under terms of the new contract, a first-year driver would be paid an hourly rate of $13.19 effective in 2002 and $13.49 an hour effective on Sept. 1, 2003.

Drivers are paid in a five step schedule. A fifth-year driver would earn $14.77 an hour in year one and $15.10 an hour in year two.

The new contract also provides flat rate compensation for activity route, bus washing, route bidding and training sessions and safety meetings.

The union has 100 drivers who are covered under the contract, school officials said.

In total dollars, the first year of the contract will cost the district $1.708 million.

In the second year of the past, the total cost will increase to $1.788 million, officials said.

Mechanics

The districtís five mechanics who work on the transportation fleet will see salary improvement of 2.25 percent in the 2002-2003 school year and 2.25 percent in the 2003-2004 school year. The school year for mechanics starts on July 1.

Insurance benefits for mechanics will increase by 2.27 percent in year one and 1.46 percent in year two.

The total cost of the contract for mechanics is $232,000 in the first year and $241,000 in the second year.

Both labor groups were granted language changes for sick leave allowing employees to accrue one day of sick leave for each month worked or paid. Employees may accumulate up to 200 days of sick leave pay.

The employees were also granted access to a new district matching 403B retirement plan.

In recommending school board approval, the administration said the contracts fell within board-set parameters and met structural balance requirements as required by the state.

The board voted 7-0 for ratification of the two agreements and 7-0 to approve the structural balance reports that demonstrate the settlements can be covered by district funds.

Top of Page