Negotiations

***See updates to Contracts in current MOUS, TA's, and Sideletters. ***

These update the contracts as appropriate

Negotiations Education Notes for Membership

The goal of the negotiation team is always to get the most for the most members- to benefit our members and for the greater good. With this in mind, we have a fairly large representation of members at the table. (see 2025-2026 1481 Team here). Also, see here for General Negotiations Training Info.

Each 3 year cycle, we are able to open the entire contract and discuss items members would like to cover.  For example, in 2025-2026 we negotiated 2 items from each contract, in 2026-2027 we will be able to negotiate 2 items from each contract, and for 2027-2028 we will be able to negotiate all items from all contracts for the 2027-2030 documents.

Group norms between the DO and Negotiating team are made including communication and confidentiality guidelines. These agreements are once again to establish good faith bargaining. 

As with all negotiations we come to the table and ask for the largest possible package to meet the needs of the greater good of our members and much like bargaining you seen on tv, both the DO and union propose changes back and forth until each item is reconciled. It’s a give and take so not everyone will get exactly what their ask was but we do our best.

The Tentative Agreement (TA- see 2025-2026 example here) then goes to the 1481 Exec. Board with the idea that this is a good offer and the negotiations team feels comfortable bringing it to the exec board and membership. The exec board makes the decision to move forward to membership with a MAJORITY vote.

Annually, in addition to salary and benefits, which are always on the table, we are allowed to negotiate 2 items per contract. Membership submits requests throughout the year via SLM, Site Reps, email and through the union exec board. The negotiations team does its best to choose the 2 items per contract that will benefit the most members and are most likely to be agreed upon.

Health and Welfare Benefits: 

If we don't utilize all of the Health and Welfare $$, we get that extra money the following year in our negotiations. We have asked to see the line item in the next budget so that there is a clear idea of how much the savings or overage is annually.

We will not know how much the health care increases are until October or November. We negotiate under a consortium for our health care premiums. 

Voting: 

All contracts and voting information will be sent out electronically to all 1481 members and paper hard copies to each site to ensure that all members have access to vote.

Everyone is part of the unit, and paying members are all part of the union. Only union members may vote. 

Budget info: 

The district has to prove to the County Office that they can afford our raises for 3 years out. 

Summary of Process: 

• The Negotiations Team comes to the best TA that they feel that they can come up with.

• 1481 Exec Board votes to decide to go forward and bring the information to the members or not. If not, the negotiation team would have to return to the table and start again.

• The Exec Board does not campaign for or against, just answers questions and encourages people to vote. 

• If approved by the members, the contract will be brought to the Board of Trustees. 

Past Salary Increases:

2025-2026: 4%

July 2024, 2.44% Salary Raise 

Jan 2025, 1.11% towards benefits

2023-2024: 3%

2022-2023: 3% 

2021-2022: 4.7% 

July 2021: 2% 

2019-2020: 5% 

Members getting “bonus pay” during the pandemic 2020 year 

2018-2019: 3.2% Raise and contributions to health care