Pasco School Employees Ratify New Contracts

After counting over 5,500 teacher and school related personnel votes, the United School Employees of Pasco received a stamp of approval on the most recently negotiated contracts with the District School Board of Pasco County.

 Sixty-eight percent of eligible employees cast ballots on Thursday, September 26, 2013.  The USEP Election Committee counted the ballots last night at the office of the United School Employees of Pasco.  96% of the teachers and 97% of school related personnel voted in favor of the tentative agreements.

Employees had several weeks from the date the tentative contract agreements were signed to review the settlement summaries and salary increases and language.  The results show overall satisfaction with the most recent salary and working-condition improvements.

At the USEP Building Representative Council meeting held Tuesday, August 27, 2013, Building Representatives voted unanimously to recommend the tentative agreements to Pasco’s teachers and SRP.  Today, the Pasco County School Board will vote to accept the tentative agreements.

Both the teacher and school related personnel settlements provide significant salary improvements following five years of recession.  The agreements also continue to provide a fully-paid employee health insurance package that includes major medical insurance, prescription drug coverage, a mental wellness program, and life insurance.

“After the last several years of protracted negotiations, it is a relief to have not only an early settlement but a good one!  I am gratified by the high percentage of approval,” USEP President Lynne Webb said.

“This agreement is a key step to making Pasco salaries competitive with surrounding county school systems, while rewarding those employees who stayed loyal to our school system during the economic downturn,” Webb stated.

Unfortunately, due to the District changing computer payroll systems, employees will not see their well-deserved raises until November 22nd,” Webb added. In addition, employees will receive the increase retroactive to their first day of work for the current school year in a lump sum.  The District has not yet informed USEP as to the date of the retroactive pay.