NEWPORT BEACH : Union, District OK 3-Year Contract

Non-teaching employees at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District reached agreement last week with the district on a new three-year contract, but some employees may still lose their jobs because of continuing budget woes.

The union was unable to persuade the district to give members a day off or extra pay for working on future holidays honoring the Persian Gulf War, but school employees did win an extra 10% contribution from the district toward the union’s health benefits package.

The new contract was approved by members of the California State Employees Assn., which represents 700 custodians, instructional aides, library employees, cafeteria workers and others in the Newport district. More than 90% of the union members voted in favor of it.

Union officials said that although they are still worried about the prospect of worker layoffs, they’re excited about the new pact.

“We’re jazzed,” said Michael Parks, a field representative for the employee association. “But like we say, as the district giveth, the district taketh away.”

No salaries were set in the new contract, and the 700-plus employees will work under last year’s pay rates until the district passes its 1992-93 budget. Both district officials and the union hope to begin salary negotiations in the fall.

The new contract settles a number of issues that had been unresolved during earlier talks.

In addition to the health care and Persian Gulf holiday issues, the union also agreed to the terms of the district’s new smoking policy. It bans tobacco smoking in any district automobile, including work trucks and buses, and prohibits smoking in district buildings or any place where students are present.

Further, workers who drive buses will now undergo drug tests during their regular physicals every two years.

Carol Stocker, director of management support services, said the district was pleased with the agreement but that there are likely to be more layoffs.

Two months ago, the school board approved layoffs for 100 non-teaching workers, including in-class instructional aides. Further cuts in that position are likely to be included in upcoming layoff talks, Stocker said.