Labor Negotiations: 2013–14 Bargaining Update Archive

Current Information:

Because 4J’s mission is teaching and learning, most of its costs are in educators: Staff salaries and benefits account for more than 85% of the general fund operating budget. The district is grateful that all 4J employee groups have agreed to share in sacrifices over the past few years to help retain jobs and stabilize class sizes.

May 14, 2013 – OSEA

District and Classified Employees' Association Open Contract Talks

Bargaining sessions set to discuss economic terms

Members of the bargaining teams of Eugene School District 4J and the Oregon School Employees Association, Chapter 1 (the union representing the district's classified employees), have scheduled a series of bargaining sessions as part of a reopener of certain economic terms in the District/OSEA collective bargaining contract. The current contract expires Sept. 30, 2014.

These discussions are expected to focus on the compensation, benefits, the work year, and insurance transfers for the 2013–14 work year.

Joint meetings of the two teams will be open to the public and the media, unless otherwise announced. Caucus meetings of individual teams will be closed to the public and media.

The schedule for future bargaining sessions is tentative. These dates are subject to cancellation or modification.

May 8, 2013 – EEA

The current contract between Eugene School District 4J and the Eugene Education Association expires on June 30, 2013.

4J and EEA have begun the formal bargaining process for a new contract. District and association leadership had previously held a number of informal discussions, seeking to come to an agreement including employee compensation concessions to help balance the budget. Unfortunately, these informal talks did not lead to an agreement.

At the first session on May 8, the two bargaining teams agreed on ground rules and a series of dates for future sessions.

The district is hopeful that the negotiation process will conclude speedily, with a fair and mutually acceptable agreement that will avert some of the anticipated staff reductions.

April 26, 2013 – EEA

The current contract between Eugene School District 4J and the Eugene Education Association expires on June 30, 2013.

4J and EEA have been holding informal discussions, seeking to come to an agreement including employee compensation concessions to help balance the budget. We appreciate that the association was willing to engage in these discussions.

Unfortunately, these informal talks did not lead to an agreement. The district remains open to resuming the informal process if the association is willing.

The next step is to begin a formal, public bargaining process. The first bargaining session has not yet been scheduled.

The district remains hopeful that the negotiation process will conclude speedily, with a fair and mutually acceptable agreement that will avert some of the anticipated staff reductions. We can envision no better way to mitigate the impact on both teacher workload and student learning next year than by reaching a swift agreement that prevents further increases to class sizes. The district also remains open to separate conversations with the association about addressing other impacts on teacher workload and additional non-financial issues.

4J letter to EEA regarding opening formal negotiations