Teacher's Union, Waukesha School District at Salary Deadlock

The Waukesha School District has still not come to an agreement for salary increases for teachers for the 2011-12 school year with the Education Association of Waukesha, but is recommending the Waukesha School Board approve an average salary increase of 1.56 percent.

Negotiations started with the Waukesha School District offering .5 percent salary increases to teachers, while the unions were requesting 1.64 percent increases.

The settling of the 2011-12 school year’s contracts were delayed because of changes in the state’s Act 10 collective bargaining law that limits public unions from negotiations except for wages. The last contract expired in June 2011. Teachers had wages frozen for the 2009-10 school year and received a 1 percent wage increase in 2010-11.

“The Education Association of Waukesha (EAW) and School District of Waukesha (SDW) have been in negotiations over an increase in 2011-12 base wages for nearly two years,” states a news release from the Waukesha School District. “We met with a WERC mediator in a mediation session with the teachers association on July 9, 2013, but were unable to come to an agreement.

“Since we are at impasse, the Board of Education will be asked to approve the District’s recommended 2011-12 base salary increase for teachers at its next meeting on July 17.”

The Waukesha School Board will vote on the proposal at its meeting that begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 222 Maple Ave.

The proposal is to give all full-time teachers an across the board $400 raise. Part-time teachers would receive a pro-rated amount, according to the news release.

The district is also proposing giving a supplemental wage increase based on years of service:

• 0-4 years: $800; Total pay increase of $1,200
• 5-9 years: $575; Total pay increase of $975
• 10-13 years: $350; Total pay increase of $750
• 14-17: $89; Total pay increase of $489

“The purpose of the across the board increase of $400 is to provide an equitable increase that fits within the former 2011-12 budget, while allowing for some additional supplemental pay,” the school district’s states in the news release. “The purpose of the graduated scale of supplemental pay is to provide lower level salaries with an increase in lieu of former schedule increases that will be phased out as we begin to implement the District’s strategic compensation plan. The cost of the total settlement is 1.72 percent and the average salary increase in approximately 1.56 percent.

“Once the salary increases for the 2011-12 school year have been approved, the district will commence base wage negotiations with the association for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years.”