On the heels of an agreement with the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County (TAAAC), the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County today approved a two-year agreement with the Association of Educational Leaders (AEL) and a one-year deal with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1693, leaving only one employee bargaining unit without a negotiated agreement heading into the start of the new fiscal year.
The agreement with AEL, which represents principals and assistant principals, provides for a full step increase for all eligible employees and a 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment for AEL-represented employees not otherwise eligible for steps because they are already at the top of their salary scale. The agreement also includes a “catch up” step for eligible Unit II employees who were employed in Unit II during the 2008-09 school year and who remain employed in Unit II into the 2017-18 school year.
The agreement, which expires on June 30, 2019, was approved by AEL members on May 24. It also changes employee contributions to health-care plans on a gradual scale from the current 7 percent or 10 percent contribution (depending on the plan) to a 12 percent or 15 percent contribution by 2020.
The agreement with AFSCME, which represents facilities, transportation, and food services personnel, will expire on June 30, 2018. It calls for a full step increase for all eligible employees, a 1 percent COLA for those Unit III employees not otherwise eligible for steps because they are already at the top of their salary scale, and a “catch up” step for eligible Unit III employees who were employed in Unit III during the 2008-09 school year and who remain employed in Unit III into the 2017-18 school year.
As is the case in agreements with AEL and the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County, the agreement with AFSCME increases employee contributions to health-care plans on a gradual scale until they reach 10 percent or 15 percent in 2020. AFSCME employees ratified the agreement on June 3.
The Board approved a one-year agreement with TAAAC on May 17. Only the Secretaries and Assistants Association of Anne Arundel County (SAAAAC) has yet to reach an agreement with the Board.
“The fact that we have agreements with three of our four bargaining units before the fiscal year begins is great news for our school system, our employees, and our students,” Board President Stacy Korbelak said. “It also is a testament to the fact that these three employee groups recognize the need to share in the solution to our health-care shortfall. It is my hope that SAAAAC will recognize that need as well and be able to agree to a similar deal for its employees at some point in the near future.”