Votes Among Union Members to Ratify the Agreement Are Taking Place Through Wednesday
Pay increases and an array of other benefits are on the way for around 600 Westside education workers after a tentative agreement was reached between the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District and Union SEIU Local 99.
The tentative contract was reached when the two parties met on Friday, April 26. Every classified employee at all 15 SMMUSD schools and offices/departments will benefit from the agreement, SMMUSD spokesperson Gail Pinsker said in an email. Votes among union members to ratify the agreement are taking place through Wednesday, May 8 until 8 p.m.
Terms of the agreement include a 5% wage increase effective Jan. 1, 2024, a 3% increase effective July 1, 2024, and two separate two-range adjustments effective July 1 of 2024 and 2025, both resulting in a 5% wage increase for unit members. Other benefits include a $1,000 bonus for all upon ratification; an additional bereavement day for a death outside immediate family; $20,000 life insurance benefit at no cost to employees; increased work calendars for Security Officers, Paraeducators, Health Office Specialists, and Food & Nutrition Service Workers; and improved health care benefits for part time workers.
“We are pleased that through our interest-based bargaining process this agreement has been reached,” said Pinkser. “We value our classified staff and appreciate their hard work and dedication to our mission and goals.”
According to a March post from SEIU Local 99, the union also met with the district that same month to discuss impact bargaining regarding affected members once Physical Activities Specialists were being laid off. That post went on to state, “As an outcome from our previous combined actions of packing & speaking up at the board meetings … SMMUSD will be reducing their layoffs from 16 to 9. We say no to any layoffs, no cut backs, we fight back!”
The union did not immediately respond to inquiry from Mirror Media Group.
News of the union contract comes amid efforts to separate SMMUSD and establish an independent Malibu Unified School District. Last month, those efforts reached a pivotal milestone when a tentative agreement on revenue sharing was reached. “The separation efforts continue as they have been with community meetings in progress regarding the recent tentative revenue sharing agreement.” said Pinsker.
