2011-12 HEA and Teamsters Employment Packages Announced

We are pleased to announce that the Heartland AEA Board of Directors has approved conditions of employment for the Heartland Education Association (HEA) and Teamster employment groups for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Below is a summary of key points for each employment group.

Heartland Education Association – Certified Union
The settlement is a total package of 3.056% (compensation plus benefits, including Teacher Salary Supplement). This increase includes step advancement on the salary schedule (for those not at the top of the schedule), increase in IPERS employer contribution from 6.95% to 8.07% and an increase in health insurance of 10%.

Highlights of changes include seniority definition language under Article 11, long-term disability and prescription drug changes under Article 16 and Article 18 changes to the distribution of Teacher Salary Supplement moneys as described below:

In the 2010-11 contract year, each eligible employee represented by the Heartland Education Association received moneys based on a percent-of-current-salary-schedule. The percent-of-current-salary was based upon the total teacher salary supplement funds less an estimate of the benefits payable on those salaries, divided by the total of all 2010-2011 current-salary-schedule-base salaries for eligible employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

For the 2011-12 contract year, contingent upon receipt of Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS), each eligible employee represented by the Heartland Education Association will receive moneys based on the 2010-11 schedule created as described above, in section H. Each eligible employee will have a step advancement on the schedule described above; staff members on longevity for one year or more will receive $327. Payment will be included in regular paychecks.

To learn more about these changes, please refer to the 2011-12 HEA contract soon to be posted on the Intranet under the Human Resources tab.

Teamsters - Classified Union
The Classified Union is in its second year of a two-year contract negotiated last year. This was a total package increase of 1.38%. The package included the increased cost of benefits, namely, increases in IPERS employer contribution from 6.95% to 8.07% and an increase in health insurance of 10%.

Additional improvements made to the Teamsters contract for the two years included a more detailed reduction-in-force process, adjustments to vacation for those who work less than 218 days as well as credit for years of service towards vacation accrual for those moving from part-time to full-time status.

Employment notifications are expected to be mailed out this week.

To learn more about these changes, please refer to the 2010-11 Teamster’s contract located on the Intranet under the Human Resources tab.

We hope to include an update for the Certified Non-Union and Classified Non-Union groups in The Connection following the June board meeting.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact Laura Gillon, Executive Director of Human Resources, at lgillon@aea11.k12.ia.us or ext. 14416.