The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County today unanimously approved an agreement with the Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne Arundel County (SAAAAC) that provides a cost-of-living increase for all members of the bargaining unit and a step increase for those who are eligible.
The agreement, which expires on June 30, 2019, was approved by SAAAAC members on January 17, 2017. The increases are retroactive to July 1, 2016. To remain within the parameters of originally allocated funding, SAAAAC members who were eligible for two step increases agreed to accept a single step increase. That allowed all SAAAAC members to receive a 1.2 percent COLA.
“We value every single employee in our school system and our Secretaries and Assistants are no exception,” Board President Stacy Korbelak said. “It is unfortunate that it took such a long time to arrive at this agreement, but we are now able to close the book on this chapter and focus on the year ahead.”
Also at today’s meeting, the Board approved COLAs for senior and executive staff members who are not represented by any bargaining unit and are not eligible for step increases. The Board in June approved step increases for eligible non-represented employees. Additionally, to help address issues related to the stability of the school system’s healthcare fund, prescription copay increases were implemented effective January 1, 2017, for all non-represented employees and retirees.
Also in June, the Board approved an agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1693, whose membership includes facilities and maintenance personnel. It also approved an agreement with the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County in September and one with the Association of Educational Leaders in December.