JESPA & District Exchange Opening Round of Proposals

The district and JESPA met on January 7th  and January 14th exchanged proposals. To be clear, none of these proposals are final and are subject to counters from either the district or JESPA. Here is a summary of the districts proposals for both sessions:

• Article 10 – Corrective Action
  • Strike evaluation language altogether and move article 10-2, Performance Management, into Article 9, which would be Evaluations. This would effectively separate workplace performance of ESPs from Corrective Action, making Performance Management not part of progressive discipline,
  • Strike Article 10-3 completely
  • Make Letters of Expectation not subject to the grievance process
• Article 12 – Grievances
  • Changing how and what must be included in grievance filings,
  • Timelines for filing a grievance, reviewing materials, and how quickly a decision should be rendered were proposed. Some timelines were extended, while others have been shortened,
  • Add an additional step prior to holding a formal grievance meeting

• Article 13 – Transportation
  • The district proposed moving language surrounding training of drivers and assistants into Professional Development, Article 14,
  • The creation of an employee and admin committee which would replace the current liaison structure,
  • And a new suggestion regarding how extra duty is posted and assigned for drivers and assistants 
• Article 4 – Work Assignments
  • Remove each instance of “arbitrary and capricious” language from the entire article
  • Remove language allowing JESPA the right to review hiring folders for inconsistencies and violations
  • Increase probation to 180 days from 90 days
• Article 16 – Food Service
  • Strike Article 16-3 completely
  • Strike the annual review of MEQ at negotiations
• New Article – Department of Safety and Security
  • Create language specific to armed security

You can read the exact changes proposed by the district here.

JESPA’s proposals were:

• Article 8 – Leaves
  • All Full Time(More than 6 hours) ESPs to be eligible for FMLA,
  • move the holiday table out of the appendix and into Article 8,
  • Specificity regarding what days are holidays, including winter break, 
  • Ensure that ESPs who work summer programs or pick up extra duty receive those year round holidays. 
  • Enrollment into the sick leave bank to be a recurring enrollment until the employee opts out during open enrollment of benefits.  
• Article 9 – Evaluations
  • Move article 9-1 into the Professional Development, Article 14,
  • Amend language to specify that all ESPs to have their evaluations completed and reviewed by May 1st each year,
  • Specify that evaluations are not to be used to discipline or otherwise retaliate against employees, 
  • Make unsatisfactory evaluations subject to the grievance process
• Article 2 – Organizational Rights
  • Create a designated JESPA Officer position who will be released to perform union duties
  • Strike Article 2-1-8, Meet and Confer, and move it to the Collaborative Working Group,
  • Amend Article 2-1-7 to move staffing language to the new Staffing Article, which has not yet been proposed
  • Strike innovation and pilot program language from contract as there are none that apply to Jeffco
  • Move Article 2-2-4 Outsourcing, into a new Article X, 
  • Allows for a grievance to be filed if the Collaborative Working Group fails to resolve the issues referred to the committee. 

• Article X – Bargaining Unit, Recognition and Outsourcing
  • Create a clear recognition clause and redefine JESPA bargaining unit as hourly employees and creation of jobs,
  • Outsourcing language from 6-2-1 is moved here and improved,
  • District agrees to no layoffs as a result of outsourcing,
  • Work brought back to bargaining unit in cases where outsourced companies fail to complete the contract,
  • Clauses to be added to contracts which allow outsourcing contracts to be terminated and that JESPA be included in the discussion in determining termination of a contract.
• Article 3 – Agreement Authority and Bargaining Amendments
  • Negotiate multiyear compensation increases and contract openers
  • Update language to commence contract succession negotiations automatically
  • Define bargaining style as traditional
• Article 15 – Preschool
  • Update language to clarify roles and make-up of the PAC (Preschool Advisory Committee)
  • Create a 3rd Preschool support position
  • Update Preschool wage schedule
• Article 14 – Professional Development
  • More clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the PD Committee
  • Offer emergency trainings to student facing ESPs
  • Create a system for peer mentoring for new hires that offers a stipend to the mentor and training for the new hire

Additionally, Article 1, Definitions was discussed but in order to maintain good faith bargaining, Definitions will be saved towards the end of bargaining to ensure that all terms and ideas that will be included in a final deal are accurately captured. You can read the exact changes proposed by the JESPA bargaining team here.

On January 21st, the district will counter the following articles:

• Article 3, Agreement Authority and Bargaining Amendments
• Article 14, Professional Development
• Appendix D (Sick Leave Bank)

JESPA will present on:

• New Article, Custodial 
• New Article, Respect