More contract proposals at Woodland Dist. 50
Negotiators have swapped updated proposals in an effort to end a contract dispute with union employees at Woodland Elementary District 50 in Gurnee, officials announced.
Both sides are in the process of posting their most recent proposals for public viewing on the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board website. If a deal isn't struck, the offers will be posted Oct. 14.
Some indication of the Woodland school board's latest offer came in a release Wednesday. In part, the board is offering raises to the workers tied to the annual Consumer Price Index.
District 50 school board President Chris Schrantz said the goal is to have a contract that "recognizes the excellent work performed by our staff, protects the district's viability over the next five years and supports student learning and achievement."
About 800 members of the Woodland Council union - a branch of the Lake County Federation of Teachers - have been working without a deal since the academic year began in August. Woodland teachers, bus drivers and support workers are in the union.
Under the union's proposed five-year contract, the teacher evaluation process would be streamlined and safety guidelines issued for school buses. The union didn't detail its salary demands in its statement.
"We are asking for a contract that will allow our teachers and support staff to make working in Woodland a career," said Sharon Anday, an eighth grade teacher and president of the Woodland Council union.
District 50 officials said the union has proposed a 9.9 percent pay increase for teachers in the first year. Teachers also want another 9.9 percent pay hike in the second year, followed by 9.5 percent raises in each of the final three years, according to the district.
Support employees would receive 7 percent raises in each of the first two years as proposed by the union, the district said, followed by 6.75 percent annual pay hikes for the last three years.
Union officials criticized the district for what they said was a premature release of the proposal.
About 6,200 students attend Woodland schools, down from 7,200 when union members last went on strike in 2003. Teachers, bus drivers and maintenance workers all were off the job for 11 days.
Negotiations are scheduled to resume Thursday, Oct. 15. The union and school board have been negotiating since January.