District "Fact Sheet" on UESF Negotiations

A while back we posted part of an email from the UESF to its memebers explaining that the negotiations with the district had reached an impasse. Since then the district has posted their side of the story on their website. Here are some of the key points from their Update on UESF Negotiations:

SFUSD Current Proposal

District initial proposal was 4% plus a one time bonus of $500 (Teachers) and $200 (para).

Proposal of Feb. 2nd included:

• 2% salary increase retro to January 1, 2006
• 1% additional salary increase effective July 1, 2006
• 1% additional salary increase effective January 1, 2007
• 3.5% salary increase effective June 30, 2007
• Each percentage point salary increase is equal to $3 million
• Total offer is 7.5% over the next 18 months
• Total estimated cash value of salary increases offered by SFUSD is over $36 million, including nearly $11 million next year.

UESF Current Proposal

UESF initial proposal was 12% with 6% each year.

Proposal of Jan. 17th included:

• 3% salary increase retro to July 1, 2005
• 3% additional salary increase effective July 1, 2006
• 4% additional salary increase effective January 1, 2007
• $400 (Teachers) and $200 (Para) one time bonus
• Total proposal is 11% over the next 18 months (10% on schedule plus 1% off schedule)
• Total estimated cash value of current UESF proposal is over $50 million

COLA - Where does it go?

• For 2006-2007 the Gross Revenue Limit increase or COLA is $18.6 million dollars
• Subtract $5.2 million for declining enrollment
• Subtract $2.1 million for retiree health benefits cost
• Subtract $2.1 million for active employee health benefit cost
• Subtract $2.7 million for step and column increases for all bargaining units
• Total remaining ("Net") COLA is $6.4 million for SY 2006-2007

Please note that this update from the district is dated February 14, 2006. On that same date there was a BOE meeting at which UESF president Dennis Kelly offered this optimistic quote, "I think this is resolvable[...] I'm hopeful. I don't think the numbers are that far apart." So I think we have to take the very different accounting of each side's offer with a grain of salt. This "fact sheet" from the district, like the UESF email update, are part of the negotiating process.

Also note that this district fact sheet is not new. Hopefully the negotiations continue and progress is being made -- quietly, at the table, as a result of good faith bargaining. When I hear about updates, I will report them hear.

What I would really like to know about is what is the BOE doing to break this impasse and get the deal done? Are they making sure that Superintendent Chan's negotiating team has every resource they need to make a deal? Are all the resources that were brought to bear to resolve the SEIU deadlock — like City Controller Ed Harrington — being brought to bear now instead of waiting for the last minute? Or are they diddling and letting the negotiations stall, waiting for the heat to rise so they can appear to be the ones to rush in an "solve" the problem at the last minute?