LBL and the LBL EA Expedited Bargaining

LBL received a request to add Occupational Therapist Assistants (OTA) into the licensed bargaining unit. Because of the differences between the classified handbook and the licensed bargained agreement, LBL sent a demand to bargain letter to the association.

The two groups met on February 18th and LBL provided a proposal that included:

  • Acknowledgment that OTA’s could be in the bargaining unit due to a required license
  • Offered a 30 minute paid duty free lunch to align with the rest of the members of the bargaining unit
  • Offered moving the classified 190, .7308 FTE to a 1.0 FTE to align with the rest of the bargaining unit and provide full benefits
  • Offered a $0.44 hourly pay increase at Step 9 (9 Steps that are consistent with the Family Support Liaison Salary Schedule). The proposed salary schedule was built upon comparable schedules from Willamette ESD, Clackamas ESD, and InterMountain ESD.

Last night, February 23, at the 2nd bargaining meeting, the association accepted all proposed language and made a counter offer on the proposed salary schedule.

The Association’s proposed salary schedule:

  • Included increases in pay that are not equitable to other members in the bargaining unit with more training and higher levels of required education.
  • Referenced Northwest Regional ESD’s salary schedule, but supporting documentation was not provided.

The session concluded with LBL countering with the original proposal as it was considered reasonable, maintained internal equity, and was in alignment with comparable salary schedules for the same positions in other ESDs.


Bargaining Update: Bargaining Session with the Certified Association (November 23, 2020)

The ESD Bargaining Team (ESD) and the Education Association Bargaining Team (EA) held the sixth meeting November 23 from 4-8:00 p.m.

Bargaining meetings are open and include the two bargaining teams and guests. Guests utilized the same meeting Zoom link. The ESD had a team of seven, the EA had a team of eight, and eight guests viewed this sixth Zoom session.

The meeting began at 4:15 pm with the ESD’s legal counsel asking if the EA had new language around childcare, as the ESD hadn’t received anything prior to the meeting. The EA had submitted something the previous Friday but due to technical difficulties was not discovered. The ESD also prepared language on childcare. The two parties exchanged new language on childcare and staff safety then moved into caucus.

The groups reconvened at 4:51 to answer EA questions regarding the ESD proposed language. After some discussion, the EA agreed to submit a final counter proposal and the groups again caucused.

Subsequent exchanges of proposed language on childcare and staff safety occurred via email.

The final MOU proposal can be found at the following link. The session ended with a tentative agreement that both sides initialled from a distance via the chat feature of Zoom. Once the MOU is ratified by the EA the MOU will be routed through DocuSign for association and Board signatures. The signed MOU will be presented to the Board at the next board meeting on December 15th.


Bargaining Update: Bargaining Session with the Certified Association (November 16, 2020)

The ESD Bargaining Team (ESD) and the Education Association Bargaining Team (EA) held the fourth meeting November 16 from 4-8:00 p.m.

Bargaining meetings are open and include the two bargaining teams and guests. Guests utilized the same meeting Zoom link. The ESD had a team of seven, the EA had a team of nine, and nine guests viewed this fifth Zoom session.

In Between Session 4 and Session 5, the EA created a counter proposal to the ESD’s previous counter Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposal. The meeting began at 4:15 pm with the ESD’s legal counsel asking if the EA had questions about the ESD’s proposal received in the previous session. ESDs legal counsel also asked questions regarding the EA’s counter proposal. Further into the session, the ESD shared an additional counter proposal and the EA also shared an additional counter proposal. The final EA counter MOU proposal can be found at the following link.The session continued with questions and dialogue between both parties. The session finished with both parties agreeing to work on additional language to present at our next meeting.

The parties will next meet via Zoom on November 23rd from 4-8:00 p.m.


Bargaining Update: Bargaining Session with the Certified Association (November 2, 2020)

The ESD Bargaining Team (ESD) and the Education Association Bargaining Team (EA) held the fourth meeting November 2 from 4-7:00 p.m.

Bargaining meetings are open and include the two bargaining teams and guests. Guests utilized the same meeting Zoom link. The ESD had a team of seven, the EA had a team of nine, and eleven guests viewed this fourth Zoom session.

In Between Session 3 and Session 4, the EA created a counter proposal to the ESD’s previous counter Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposal. The meeting began at 4:05 pm with the ESD’s legal counsel asking questions about the EA proposal. The EA’s counter to the ESD’s counter MOU proposal can be found at the following link. The session continued with questions and dialogue between both parties. The session finished with a plan for the ESD to work on a counter to bring to the next session.

The parties will next meet via Zoom on November 16 from 4-8:00 p.m.


Bargaining Update: Bargaining Session with the Certified Association (October 12, 2020)

The ESD Bargaining Team (ESD) and the Education Association Bargaining Team (EA) held the third meeting October 12 from 4-5:50 p.m.

Bargaining meetings are open and include the two bargaining teams and guests. Guests utilized the same meeting Zoom link. The ESD had a team of seven, the EA had a team of eight, and twenty-six guests viewed this third Zoom session.

In Between Session 2 and Session 3, the ESD sought different legal counsel and created a new counter proposal to the Initial EA MOU proposal. The meeting began at 4:05 pm with the ESD’s new legal counsel sharing the new counter proposal. The ESD’s new counter to the EA’s initial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposal can be found at the following link. The session continued with questions from the EA and discussion regarding several points in the proposal.

The parties will next meet via Zoom on October 27 from 4-8:00 p.m.


Bargaining Update: Bargaining Session with the Certified Association (October 5, 2020)

The ESD Bargaining Team (ESD) and the Education Association Bargaining Team (EA) held the second meeting October 5 from 4-6:50 p.m.

Bargaining meetings are open and include the two bargaining teams and guests. Guests utilized the same meeting Zoom link. The ESD had a team of seven, and the EA had a team of nine. Ten guests joined the second Zoom session.

The meeting began at 4:15 pm with the ESD asking clarifying questions regarding the EA’s initial proposal. The ESD provided their counter proposal to the EA and gave a summary of highlights. The ESD’s counter to the EA’s initial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposal can be found at the following link.

The parties will next meet via Zoom on October 12 from 4-8:00 p.m.


Bargaining Update: Bargaining Session with the Certified Association (September 23, 2020)

The ESD Bargaining Team (ESD) and the Education Association Bargaining Team (EA) held the first meeting September 23 from 4-6:00 p.m. Prior to this meeting, the ESD received a “demand to bargain” letter on August 29th which started a 90 day interim (or expedited) bargaining process. Ninety days would conclude on November 25th.

Bargaining meetings are open and include the two bargaining teams and guests. Guests utilized the same meeting Zoom link. The ESD had a team of six, and the EA had a team of nine. Five guests joined the first Zoom session.

The meeting began at 4:00 pm and after introductions and opening remarks, the EA provided the ESD with their initial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) proposal which can be found at the following link.

The ESD offered the following dates and times for continuing the bargaining conversation:

  • Tuesday, September 29, 1-8PM
  • Monday, October 5, 3-8PM
  • Monday, October 12, 3-8PM

The parties will next meet via Zoom on October 5 from 4-8:00 p.m. and October 12 from 4-8:00 p.m.