On Friday, May 15, the Classified Bargaining Team and the CMO met for a full day of bargaining, ending with tentative agreements (TAs) on 4 articles:
- Article 5 (Evaluations and Professional Development): Evaluations will be based on an employee’s current role, with at least one required during the introductory period.
- Article 6 (Grievance Procedure): Aligned with the certificated contract. Level 1 grievances must be filed within 15 workdays.
- Article 9 (Assignments and Transfers): Supervisors will meet with unit members regarding assignment changes or transfers for the following year.
- Article 11 (Layoffs): HTH will provide HTEC at least 7 workdays notice before issuing layoff notices. Members may request placement on the reemployment list within 10 days.
We also made progress on Article 7 (Safety), but have not yet reached agreement, particularly around ensuring appropriate dedicated spaces for delivering PT/OT services. Discussions on Article 18 (Workloads) have stalled, so we have agreed with the CMO to shift our approach. Next session, we will break into smaller groups with affected job classes to identify priorities and develop more targeted language to bring back to the bargaining table.
The CMO confirmed healthcare rates for next year, positioning us to make progress on the Health and Wellness Benefits article. The Governor’s May Revision projects a 4.31% COLA for next year and includes substantial increases in TK-12 and special education funding (due in part to lobbying by CTA!!) – important context as we continue advocating for meaningful improvements at the table.
We reconvene at the bargaining table in one week, on May 22nd. We love seeing everyone wearing their blue shirts, hoodies, and buttons in solidarity – keep it up!
HTH Works Because We Do: Support Staff, Strengthen HTH!
In solidarity,
HTEC Bargaining Team
Faith Hicks, Michael DeHut, Jocelyn Flores, Analia Garcia, Ana Montes, Francisco Diaz, Robert Morales, Reyna Moreno, Ryan Hayes, Socorro Castaneda, Jen Lewis
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