PSE Large Group Bargaining Updates

Evergreen Public Schools bargaining team met today beginning at 9 a.m and sent an updated proposal to the PSE team. The EPS bargaining team will be available to bargain again tomorrow morning. 

The EPS bargaining team and district administrators, including Superintendent Dr. Moloney, met today at 9 a.m. to work on communications and logistics pertaining to the cancellation of school tomorrow. 

Bargaining will take place beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, September 2.  

The EPS bargaining team has been at the table today since 9 a.m.  At this time, there is no tentative agreement.  We would, however, like to direct your attention to the district communication that went out this afternoon regarding the start of school. 

The district bargaining team members will continue to make themselves available to bargain and will meet again tomorrow morning. 

There are no new updates today. The district bargaining team will come together again tomorrow morning. Please check back tomorrow for any updates. 

After coming close on terms of a new contract last night, union leaders offered a proposal today that took our sides much further apart. 

We presented our final offer to union leaders today at 2:05 p.m., and we have asked them to take the proposed contract to their members for a vote. We have made a building available for members to vote later today. If members approve the contract, we would be able to start school as planned on Tuesday, September 2. 

The final offer has been posted below. The EPS bargaining team will be available to negotiate all weekend. We will update you as new information becomes available. 

After bargaining from 9 a.m. until after 8 p.m. yesterday, the district and the PSE Large Group bargaining teams continued mediation today until 9:40 p.m. Bargaining will resume tomorrow at 9 a.m. 

Today both bargaining teams came to the table at the scheduled 9 a.m. time.  The session ended at 8 p.m. without a tentative agreement. Both teams will come back to the table again tomorrow to continue their work toward an agreement at 9 a.m. 

Today, the district bargaining team met from 9 am until 4 pm. Though the PSE bargaining team was absent from negotiations, the district team took the opportunity to provide them with a new package proposal. Both teams will come back to the table tomorrow to continue working toward an agreement. 

Today, the bargaining teams from EPS and the PSE Large Group were in mediation from 10 am until 7 pm. Although a gap still exists, the bargaining teams were able to make some positive movement toward a tentative agreement. The district bargaining team will be present and ready to bargain tomorrow morning. 

Yesterday the bargaining teams from EPS and the PSE Large Group were in mediation from 9 am until 7 pm. The session ended without a tentative agreement. Superintendent Dr. Christine Moloney was present with the district bargaining team during yesterday’s mediation. The next bargaining session is planned for Monday morning. 

The district will continue to bargain with union leaders in good faith in order to reach a fair agreement that is affordable and sustainable. The hope is that an agreement will be reached that allows us to start the school year as scheduled on August 26.

Over the past several months, Evergreen Public Schools and the PSE Large Group bargaining teams have been actively engaged in negotiations and recently agreed to joint mediation. While significant progress has been made on several key issues, an agreement has yet to be reached. 

On August 13, EPS presented a final offer that includes options for a two or three-year contract. EPS’s proposed salary increases, salary schedules and the tentative agreements are shared below:

Salary Increases beginning with the 2025-2026 school year for Years 1 & 2:

Implicit Price Deflator (IPD) = 2.5% for 2025-2026 school year

• All Paraeducators: 1st year 4.5%, 2nd year IPD + 2% 

• Professional Technicians: 1st year 3.5%, 2nd year IPD+.5%, with additional $1.50 per hour for roving Registered Behavior Technicians

• Service Workers: 1st year 2.5% add 2% step for Class V, 2nd year: IPD+.5%.

• Maintenance: 1st year 3.5%, 2nd year IPD

• Mechanics: 2.5% plus 2% step at year 5, which increases steps above 5 years by 4.5%, 2nd year IPD.  Mechanics who obtain and maintain certification as a Master School Bus Mechanic will receive $2.50 (increase from $1.50) over their regular wage

• Transportation: 1st year 3.5%, 2nd year IPD+1%

Additional Proposed Items:

• Year 1 & 2: Additional August Inservice day for school year employees or one additional personal leave day for year-round employees (equivalent to .5% salary increase)

• Classified employees (1 at each Elementary school and 2 at each Secondary school) will be selected for the Building Leadership Team and claim the compensable time

2027-2028 school year (offered PSE 2 options):

• Option 1: 3-year contract that includes a salary comparison review in year 3 that guarantees a salary increase based on neighboring district comparisons. The increase would be the comparison percentage or IPD, whichever is greater

• Option 2: 2-year contract

Summary of currently agreed upon tentative agreements:

• Less than 12-month employees with 10 full years of service shall receive 4 personal leave days

• Attendance at new hire orientation will be mandatory and paid for all new hires, subject to Section 4.3, and required to be completed within 30 days of hire.

• Reimbursement for General Paraeducator Certificate upon completion of Fundamental Course of Study (FCS)

• Within the first 20 days of school, paraeducators will meet with the supervisor to review and understand their role with the universal schedule

• Field trips for paraeducators: if break time is unable to be adjusted, they will be paid with pre-approval from the administrator.

• Job-alike meetings may be provided quarterly and held during work hours for media and technology assistants.

• Mechanics who obtain and maintain certification as a Master School Bus Mechanic will receive $2.50 (increase from $1.50) over their regular wage.

• Campus Security and Mechanics who are assigned to be on-call after hours will receive $250 stipend per week (increase from $150).

• The District will provide $250 (plus tax) for boot allowance to mechanics, maintenance, and warehouse. 

• Transportation employees shall receive an equivalent amount of sick leave hours to match the hours per day they were hired, every month, to match all other employees.

• Transportation tool allowance increased to $1,000 from $600 per mechanic.

• 30 minutes per day for the sole purpose of bus clean up, required paperwork, pre/post trip inspection (WAC 39-145-041).

• Drivers will be paid for 4 hours for the preparation of their bus for the State inspection.

• All employees assigned to the warehouse shall receive three (3) shirts annually and one (1) jacket upon being hired.