Tentative 4-year Agreement Includes 10.55% Wage Increase Over Two Years

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Bend-La Pine Schools and Oregon School Employees Association Chapter 6 reached a conceptual agreement on a new contract for about 900 classified employees in the school district, including those who transport students, run school offices, prepare and serve meals, clean and maintain facilities, support students in the classroom, and serve in other support roles. The four-year collective bargaining agreement concludes negotiations that began last spring.

“Classified employees are an integral part of our school district, often working behind the scenes to ensure teaching and learning run smoothly and students’ needs are being met. We value their talents, energy, hard work, and rely on them across our entire district,” Superintendent Steve Cook said. “It took us many meetings over many months to arrive at this collective bargaining agreement. The agreement shows how we worked together to improve conditions for our classified staff.”

“Wages and benefits are a priority for most people and classified employees are no different. The bargaining team started with those priorities in mind along with other feedback from our members to guide our priorities for a stronger contract that not only makes a noticeable difference in our pockets, but also aims to make the Bend-La Pine School District an employer of choice in the area,” OSEA Chapter 6 President Debbie Christian said. “Though hundreds of hours of time spent in preparation and at the bargaining table have been important and at times challenging conversations, we believe we have achieved steps towards the classified priorities.”

The tentative agreement provides a cost-of-living increase for classified employees: 6.3 percent for the current school year, retroactive to July 1, 2023; and 4.25 percent for 2024-25, effective July 1, 2024. The agreement also includes increases in the district’s insurance premium contribution: $55 a month effective Oct. 1, 2023; and $40 a month effective Oct. 1, 2024.

The bargaining teams also agreed to reopen discussions in spring 2025 to negotiate salary and insurance cap adjustments for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. In addition, each party will be allowed to reopen two other language items in the contract at that time.

The parties will bring the proposed 2023-27 collective bargaining agreement, which includes dozens of negotiated changes, to the OSEA membership for a ratification vote and to the School Board for approval.