New Benefits for Oak Park Non-Teaching Staff Sought

Health insurance for part-time workers, two more vacation days, increased longevity pay and the creation of a “pool” of sick leave for injured workers are among the new benefits being sought by the union that represents non-teaching staff in the Oak Park Unified School District.

Officials from the district and the union, the Oak Park Classified Assn., will open negotiations soon on the new contract. The current three-year agreement expires June 30.

The association, which is affiliated with the California Teachers Assn. and the National Education Assn., represents about 70 employees including cafeteria workers, groundskeepers, custodians, clerical staff and teacher’s aides.

The contract proposal was unveiled at the school board meeting this week.

One of the union’s proposals would require the district to give non-teaching staff members the same percentage increase in pay as that given to any other district employee.

Union President Jim Long said the clause would “ensure that we get treated equally.”

The union sharply criticized last year’s board decision granting a $5,690 pay increase to Assistant Supt. Stan Mantooth, who had been promoted from director of administrative services.

The union also wants to establish a voluntary sick leave bank that would help employees whose accumulated sick leave would not cover catastrophic illness.

Under the plan, employees could donate one day of sick leave to the bank and then would be eligible to withdraw sick days if needed.

The union also seeks to add Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to the district’s 15 approved holidays.