Union urges four meetings, clearer seniority rules before any layoffs

A union negotiator presented a proposed rewrite of Article 19 on layoffs that would require the district to meet with association representatives at least four times within 30 days before any notice of reduction in force or layoffs is issued. "The district shall meet with representatives of the association at least four times over 30 days to review the following: seniority list, positions impacted, job descriptions listing minimum skills, required skills, bumping lists, employees to be laid off, and all open positions and recall rates," the presenter said.

The proposal adds precision to seniority definitions (referencing Article 18), requires that temporary and probationary employees be laid off before permanent employees in some places, and removes phrases that limited consideration of experience to only "lower paid" jobs. It also proposes that a bumping employee be able to fulfill the minimum requirements for a position within 30 days and that the district include job descriptions showing any special skills required when giving notice.

The union also proposed a new requirement that employees who experience a reduction in force be given the opportunity to meet with the association and the district to review the process and receive resources within 10 days of notice. Contractual clarifications would retain accumulated sick, vacation and personal days for employees who are later reinstated and require compensation for unused leave and a severance payment if an employee is not recalled by the end of the recall period.

District and union negotiators flagged typographical issues and duplicated wording (for example, instances where "lower paid" should read "other classification") and agreed to correct them in the electronic draft. No formal vote or board action occurred; negotiators said they would caucus and return with counters on the proposals.