The Examiner U-46 News Feed

SEIU contract ratified by District U-46 board vote

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 voted 6-0, board member Kate Thommes was absent, to approve a new agreement with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 9.
  SEIU represents food services employees and the new agreement is for three years through the 2026-2027 school year.
  No summary of the changes was presented at the board meeting, but the 60-page document shows changes to nearly every page.
  Starting hourly rates increase for most positions in 2024-2025: cook ($17 to $18), elementary lead ($16 to $17.25), elementary assistant lead ($15 to $16.25), food service technician ($15 to $16.25), food nutrition services (FNS) floater ($15.50 to $16.50), café relief ($15 to $16.50), FNS satellite lead ($17.50 to $19), commissary FNS technician ($15 to $16.75) and material expeditor ($17.50 to $19).
  Material stockers remains at $17 an hour while the baker, assistant cook and cook II positions are being removed.
  For both 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, pay raises will be tied to the consumer price index (CPI).
  “Starting salaries will increase by ½ of the CPI factor used to increase current staff hourly rates annually,” the agreement states.
  There are some paid holidays added to the language including Columbus Day, Christmas Eve and Juneteenth. The agreement adds five minutes to break time for employees working 7.0+ hours a day (35 to 40 minutes) and those working 6 to 6.75 hours (25 to 30 minutes).
  There are changes to probationary period language with the agreement previously stating that “probationary period lasts for 60 days” to now saying the “probationary period lasts for 60 working days for external hires and 30 working days for internal employees.”
  Language regarding employees who do not wish to be coerced into the union has changed.
  The agreement previously stated: “If the employee revokes consent for payroll to deduct dues, the Employer will comply.”
  The agreement now states: “Employees seeking information to withdraw membership will be referred to the Union. The Union will inform HR of the employees’ decision to revoke consent for payroll to deduct dues. The district shall refer candidates inquiring about Union membership to the U-46 bargaining unit website.”