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School union gets contract in Struthers
By jeanne starmack
struthers
The school district has settled a contract with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.
The three-year contract covers custodians, secretaries, teacher aides, bus drivers and cafeteria workers. It was ratified Aug. 17 by the union and Aug. 25 by the school board, said Robert Rostan, schools superintendent.
Rostan said the contract includes a 2-percent increase in wages during each of the first two years, and employees will pay more toward health-care benefits in the second year.
The third year was left open, he said. Whatever the district negotiates with the teachers union for 2012 is what OAPSE members will get as well, he said.
Negotiations with teachers will begin in the spring.
OAPSE members are paid on different levels.
A beginning custodian makes $29,851 and will see that increase to $30,448 under the new contract, Rostan said. Custodians on the top step make $35,685 and will see that increase to $36,300.
Beginning secretaries who work eight-hour days will see their pay increase from $28,684 to $29,257. At the top of the pay scale, secretaries making $33,245 will see an increase to $33,909.
Beginning bus drivers’ pay will rise from $7,092 to $7,233. Top-scale pay will rise from $8,430 to $8,598.
Beginning cafeteria workers will see pay rise from $13,454 to $13,723. Top-scale pay rises from $15,427 to $15,786.
Teachers aides’ pay rises from $12,232 to $12,476 on the lowest step. Top-step pay increases from $13,249 to $13,500.
Contributions toward health-care benefits include 8 percent for union members in the district’s core plan; 4 percent for those in the high-deductible plan; and 12 percent for those in the low-deductible plan.
, Rostan said.