SBUnified
SBUSD and CSEA Agree to Increased Hourly Compensation for Specific Salary Ranges and “Me Too” Compensation Clause in the Contract
Introduction
This is Santa Barbara Unified School District’s (SBUSD) third Negotiations Update for successor contract negotiations between the District and the California School Employee Association (CSEA). The District will distribute the Negotiations Update after meetings with CSEA to inform our community on the progress of negotiations.
SBUSD and CSEA Agree to Increased Hourly Compensation for Specific Salary Ranges
The tentative agreement proposes that on July 1, 2024, the following Ranges on the salary schedule receive the hourly rate increase. The chart below lists both the current rate range and the increase and what the new range will be. It is important to note that these changes are separate from any compensation increase that all members may receive.
| Step 1 Current Rate | Step 19 Current Hourly Rate | Hourly Increase | Step 1 Increased Hourly Rate | Step 19 Increased Hourly Rate | |
| Range 16 | $16.01/ Hour | $21.07/ Hour | $1.55/ Hour | $17.56/ Hour | $22.62/ Hour |
| Range 18 | $16.01/ Hour | $21.07/ Hour | $1.55/ Hour | $17.56/ Hour | $22.62/ Hour |
| Range 20 | $16.65/ Hour | $22.94/ Hour | $1.10/ Hour | $17.75/ Hour | $24.04/ Hour |
| Range 21 | $17.05/ Hour | $23.41/ Hour | $0.82/ Hour | $17.87/ Hour | $24.23/ Hour |
| Range 24 | $18.07/ Hour | $24.93/ Hour | $0.30/ Hour | $18.37/ Hour | $25.23/ Hour |
This agreement was reached out of mutual interest in having the lowest ranges on the classified salary schedule start at an hourly rate closer to $20/hour, knowing that pending wage negotiations will continue to increase the agreed amounts. The goal is to be more competitive with both the State minimum wage of $16/hour and recent CA legislation that calls for fast food employees to receive a minimum wage of $20/hour. These salary proposals will add around $254,000 in ongoing costs to the District’s budget.
SBUSD and CSEA Exchanged Proposals “Me Too” Compensation Clause in the Contract
For many years, CSEA and SBUSD have operated with an informal understanding that any compensation agreement with another employee group would be guaranteed as the minimum implemented with CSEA. This is commonly referred to as a “Me Too” compensation clause. This tentative agreement places a “Me Too” compensation clause in the collective bargaining agreement.
SBUSD Considering CSEA Proposal on Compensatory Time
CSEA and SBUSD have a mutual interest in improving the process for tracking the accrual of compensatory time. The proposal suggests that compensatory time is tracked in a similar fashion to how overtime hours are recorded and paid out.
CSEA Considering SBUSD Counter Proposal on Transfers
CSEA asked the District to base transfers on seniority, instead of based around District needs. Additionally, CSEA asked for 10 days written notice ahead of a transfer instead of 5. SB Unified countered with an allowance of five extra days with mutual agreement between the employee and District. CSEA Proposes
Changes to Progressive Discipline Language
SB Unified is considering a CSEA proposal to ensure that employees are notified in writing that they have received a verbal warning, along with making sure employees are made aware of their right to union representation in every disciplinary communication.
Next Steps:
The next negotiation sessions are on March 18 and April 3.
Dr. John Becchio, Assistant Superintendent Human Resources
Kim Hernandez, Assistant Superintendent, Business Services
Tara Wise, Classified Personnel Manager
Ed Gomez, Santa Barbara High School Assistant Principal
It is grossly embarrassing for the workers in a government agency in Santa Barbara to be paid at state minimum rates, or even close to that level. I know there are charts that compare cost of living numbers by geographical areas in this state. Minimum for any job in Santa Barbara City or Santa Barbara School District or SBCC (etc.) should accommodate that and go up from there. This is another example of how the concerted effort to ruin public schools is working. People need to understand what is being denied them and their families.
“This agreement was reached out of mutual interest in having the lowest ranges on the classified salary schedule start at an hourly rate CLOSER TO $20/hour, knowing that pending wage negotiations will continue to increase the agreed amounts. The goal is to be MORE COMPETITIVE WITH THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE of $16/hour and recent CA legislation that calls for fast food employees to receive a minimum wage of $20/hour.”
“Competing” with the state-mandated minimum wage? What? It’s a MINIMUM!
This press release brought to you by the same SBUSD brain trust that brought us the headline “SBUSD to Increase Medical and Dental Premiums” at the top of the previous update (when they really meant increase the employer-paid portion of the premiums).
The same brain trust who also brought us the line “…the budget amount for professional learning (i.e. Travel and Conference) has returned back to pre-pandemic levels.” in a recent “Did you Know?” press release, where the EXACT SAME PRESS RELEASE showed that the current level ($1,197,957) is a 66.5% increase over the pre-pandemic (2019) level ($719,301).
The same brain trust that deducted health insurance premiums from many teachers’ paychecks, then forgot to actually sign them up for the health insurance.
The level of incompetence at SBUSD’s central office is staggering.
Sort of surprised to read this explanation: “For many years, CSEA and SBUSD have operated with an informal understanding that any compensation agreement with another employee group would be guaranteed as the minimum implemented with CSEA. This is commonly referred to as a “Me Too” compensation clause. Unless the current contract doesn’t contain this already, I do know it has existed in contracts going back at least to 2008 if not longer. Unless I’m totally misreading the previous contracts it surely was not” informal”. Management and administrative increases have definitely been “informal”. Ed Heron.