Arbitration expected over school contract

Terry Webster

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 | 11:38 a.m.

Contract negotiations for the Education Support Employees Association of the Clark County School District are at an impasse, the union's president said Wednesday.

"We declared an impasse about two weeks ago and now we will file for arbitration," union President Pat BeDunnah said.

The union's contract expired July 1, but the terms under that contract still remain in effect, she said. The arbitration process is expected to begin in January or February.

One item the support employees are asking for is paid days off when school is closed on days before or after holidays.

BeDunnah pointed out that when nonholiday days off are scheduled, such as the day after Thanksgiving, support employees lose money because they are paid an hourly rate, not a salary as teachers or administrators are.

"They lose a full day's pay," she said. "And they have to pay bills like everyone else."

The union also wants benefits equal to what the teachers receive, BeDunnah said.

She also would like to see a School Board member placed on the negotiations committee. Currently, an administrator acts as a go-between for the union and the school board.

Meanwhile, arbitration on the contract for the Clark County Classroom Teachers Association, which announced an impasse in August, is set for Dec. 7-9, Executive Director John Jasonek said.

The teachers union plans to argue that the district has enough money to provide a 3 percent increase for salary and benefits, Jasonek said. The 3 percent hike would cost an estimated $15 million.

"It's pretty high stakes," Jasonek said. "The arbitrator has to take one side or the other. It has to be the whole package as presented. They can't take away or add parts to it."

Jasonek said additional details, such as the name of the arbitrator, will be announced as the arbitration date gets closer.

As with the support employees, the teachers' former contract remains in effect until a new one is approved.