PASD and Support Staff Settle Contract

After two years an eight months of negotiations the Phoenixville Area School District a d it's support staff union have ratified a contract.PASD School Board ratified the contract by 9-0 vote during a special meeting Monday that lasted about 6 minutes. The union membership voted to ratify the deal on Sunday.

Under the new contract members of the Phoenixville Education Support Peofessions (PESP) will pay more out of pocket each year for medical benefits.

The Specifics:

Under the terms of the new agreement, the PESP members will contribute increasing percentages towards their health and medical insurance coverage, which is a Blue Cross Personal Choice 20/30/70 Plan.  For the 2013-14 school year, the contribution will be 4%.  That percentage will increase to 5% in 2014-15 and 6% in 2015-16.  Per the agreement, the parties also settled on a three-tiered prescription plan, with members paying $5.00 for generic prescriptions, $25.00 for name brand “formulary” drugs and $40.00 for name brand “non-formulary” drugs. 

The parties also agreed to wage freezes for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, with members seeing a one-time cash bonus payment for the 2012-13 year.  Members will receive a $0.50 per hour increase in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The Phoenixville Area School District (“District”) and the Phoenixville Education Support Professionals/PSEA/NEA (“PESP”) are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, which will be in effect through June 30, 2016.  The parties had been negotiating terms for a new agreement since January 2011, as the previous contract expired on June 30, 2011.  The PESP represents the District’s custodians, maintenance employees, clerks, secretaries and technicians. 

The PESP ratified the agreement at a membership meeting on Sunday, August 25, 2013, and the Phoenixville Area School District Board of School Directors approved the agreement by a 9-0 vote on Monday, August 26, 2013.

Under the terms of the new agreement, the PESP members will contribute increasing percentages towards their health and medical insurance coverage, which is a Blue Cross Personal Choice 20/30/70 Plan.  For the 2013-14 school year, the contribution will be 4%.  That percentage will increase to 5% in 2014-15 and 6% in 2015-16.  Per the agreement, the parties also settled on a three-tiered prescription plan, with members paying $5.00 for generic prescriptions, $25.00 for name brand “formulary” drugs and $40.00 for name brand “non-formulary” drugs. 

The parties also agreed to wage freezes for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years, with members seeing a one-time cash bonus payment for the 2012-13 year.  Members will receive a $0.50 per hour increase in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Board Negotiating Committee Chair David Ziev stated that “this contract is the result of the Administration and the employees working together to solve difficult operational and financial issues.  Our employees proved that they are sensitive to the challenges that the District faces, and they presented creative, yet pragmatic, solutions to improve operations and the financial health of the District.”  PESP President Ric Rice added that “the Association is happy to have settled and looks forward to working with the District in the future.”