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L/RAIN Temp: 55 °F Wind: N at 5 mph Tuesday, April 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 29, 2002 Ashland school union files salary grievance Nonteaching employees don’t like plan to cut back workers’ hours By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune ASHLAND — A school employees union that represents nonteaching staff has filed a grievance against the school district over a plan that cuts some salaries by 25 percent. The Oregon School Employees Association Chapter 42, which represents 143 secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, crossing guards and other workers, disputes the district’s plan to cut hours without regard to seniority. "Everybody who is in excess of six hours goes down to six," said Richard Ramirez, field representative of the OSEA in Jackson County. "Their strategy is that instead of reducing staff, they would reduce hours." The district has agreed to delay on its decision pending arbitration in November, said Ramirez. The Ashland School District has been forced to cut $1.9 million out of next year’s budget, requiring a reduction of 27 teachers, or 10 percent of the teaching staff. The district also has cut one instructional and one in-service day out of the year to partially offset the shortfall. If the Legislature fails to raise more money for education to plug an $860 million state shortfall, the district could further reduce its budget by $1.5 million. To cut down on overhead, the district reduced all classified educational assistants working in excess of eight hours a day to six hours per day, amounting to a 25 percent reduction in pay. Classified employees make $8 to $15 an hour. The district and union have engaged in negotiations for many months, but Ramirez said, "We couldn’t reach any satisfactory conclusion." At an earlier juncture, union officials indicated they would consider laying off colleagues rather than suffer salary reductions. However, this idea was shot down after members voted to reject the proposal. Both Superintendent Juli Di Chiro and business manager Loren Luman have offered to freeze their own salaries during the budget crunch. District officials have said they have the right to cut hours as a way of handling the budget crisis. They also have said their intention is to keep as many employees as possible. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S