By JESPA Communications
With just one month left before the Jeffco Education Support Professionals Association (JESPA) contract expires, the union representing thousands of frontline education workers in Jeffco Public Schools is entering the final stretch of a high-stakes negotiation. Months of collective action have led to significant gains—but core issues like fair pay, affordable healthcare, and equity in food services remain unresolved.
On July 31st, JESPA will return to the bargaining table alongside the Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA), with a final push to secure contracts that reflect the dignity and value of support staff and the educators who keep schools running.
A Season of Wins—and Resistance
So far, JESPA has secured major victories that protect members from job insecurity and safeguard their rights in the workplace.
Protecting Against Outsourcing
One of the most significant wins is language restricting outsourcing—a growing threat in school districts nationwide. JESPA won clearer definitions of bargaining unit work, ensuring that essential jobs like transportation, food service, paraeducator, and custodial work cannot be handed off to private contractors without oversight or accountability. For workers, this is more than a procedural win—it’s job security in the face of a privatization trend that often leads to lower pay, weaker benefits, and unsafe conditions for both students and staff.
Stronger Procedures, Safer Schools
New language addressing school safety, mutual respect, custodial workloads, and professional development aims to improve day-to-day working conditions for employees—and, by extension, student learning environments.
Improvements were also made in leave policies, transportation protocols, staff evaluations, and preschool support, with new contract language aimed at greater clarity, fairness, and staffing support.
Fighting Back Against Harmful Proposals
JESPA didn’t just win language—it also fended off numerous efforts by the district to weaken the contract:
- Preserved bilingual pay, a crucial equity measure that recognizes the skills of multilingual staff supporting diverse student populations.
- Blocked efforts to allow arbitrary transfers, which would have enabled administrators to move staff without cause, disrupting lives and workplace stability.
- Defended rights to transparency and fairness at every step.
Defending Just Cause and Due Process
The union also beat back a sweeping attempt by the district to eliminate “just cause” protections, a move that would have made it easier for administrators to discipline or fire employees without transparent reasoning. If successful, the change would have effectively turned ESP staff into “at-will” employees—stripping away the right to grieve unfair discipline and handing unchecked power to administration. JESPA stood firm and preserved this foundational labor right.
The union also negotiated improvements to grievance procedures, reinforcing the right to fair treatment when conflicts arise.
What’s Still at Stake
Despite these gains, some of the most important contract articles remain unresolved—and these final issues will likely determine whether the union brings the agreement forward for a vote.
Article 3: Long-Term Contract and Security
JESPA is pushing for a multi-year agreement that locks in annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and step increases, so workers aren’t forced to fight for raises year after year. This would create more predictable income growth and allow staff to plan for the future, even amid inflation and rising costs of living and other factors creating uncertainty.
Article 6: Compensation and Healthcare
While some districts have made strides toward more affordable employee healthcare, Jeffco lags behind. JESPA is demanding meaningful wage increases and truly affordable health insurance options—particularly for lower-income workers and those supporting families. Support staff are often among the lowest-paid in the district, yet they bear the brunt of rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Article 16: Food Service Equity
Food service has become a major battleground in Jeffco. JESPA is calling for fair staffing ratios, training, and recognition for food service professionals—the people who feed Jeffco’s students every day. But this fight is also about the food itself.
The union is championing scratch cooking, healthier meals, and sustainable practices—a response to what they see as an overreliance on prepackaged and ultra-processed foods and undermining the professionalism of food service workers. These proposals are not just about workplace dignity—they’re about the health of students and the integrity of public education.
Next Bargaining Session
The next bargaining session, scheduled for July 31st, will be a defining moment. Member turnout has already been a powerful force in negotiations—and with the clock ticking, the union is urging members and our community to stay engaged.
“We’ve protected what we’ve built. Now it’s time to win what we need,” said JESPA President Zander Kaschub. “Fair pay, healthcare, and dignity for all workers—it’s not too much to ask.”
As negotiations near the finish line, JESPA is making it clear: the contract will only be as strong as the people behind it. The next bargaining session is Thursday, July 31 – Join us, and bring your voice.
