(SWL Schools) Board approves Teamsters contract - Other Community News - Ohioans for Responsible Rural Development

ThisWeek Community News
Published October 14, 2011

By Scott Rawdon

The Southwest Licking school board on Oct. 13 approved a contract with the Teamsters Local 413 union that will freeze raises and step increases for three years, through June 2014, for nonteaching personnel.

The employees also will have Teamsters Michigan-sponsored insurance.

The school board met in a special session to work out the details of the agreement and approved the contract 4-0. Board member Don Huber was absent.

"It should be a cost savings," said Superintendent Forest Yocum.

He said that for the most part, insurance coverage between the Teamsters and the school district is "very similar." Other employees who are not members of the Teamsters may have the opportunity to opt into the coverage, as well, but he said those details have yet to be worked out.

Board president Dave Engle said the insurance change helps everyone in three ways. The Teamsters have more people on their policy, which saves them money; the school district is paying less for employee benefits; and the nonteaching staff is no longer on the teaching staff's policy, which also saves the district money.

"It's not like the district will be floating in money after this," Engle said, but there should be some savings.

Engle said the nonteaching staff now joins the teaching staff in having pay raises and step increases frozen. He said the teaching staff's raises and step increases were frozen for three years during the Aug. 18 board meeting.

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