Salem Grade ESP Find Strength in Union

By Terry Lawler
Jan Jecevicus remembers a time of chaos for education support professionals in her district.

“There was no security, the administration paid us whatever they wanted to, they put us where they wanted to, and there was no structure to the salary schedule until just before we would get a contract,” said Jecevicus, president of the Salem Grade Education Support Professionals Association.

Jan Jecevicus

Rick Moore

However, out of chaos has come order, according to Rick Moore, Southern Lakes United Educators executive director, who gives credit to “the most patient bargaining team I’ve ever seen.” But it hasn’t been a smooth ride.

Members first voted to affiliate the Salem Grade ESP in 1998. But in 2000, by a one-vote margin, they voted to disaffiliate. Then in 2001, they voted, again by a one-vote margin, to re-affiliate.

Jecevicus blamed the 2000 disaffiliation vote on the new district administrator at the time, Karen Stollenwerk.

“On her first day, she and the board president made us some promises,” Jecevicus said.

“Just trust us,” they said. “Things are going to change, and are going to get better.” According to Jecevicus, Stollenwerk kept saying, “Just give us a chance.”

“She also told us evil, scary things to encourage disaffiliation. It was just so wrong.”

“The board and administration developed a salary schedule that gave huge increases to support staff to keep the union away,” Moore said.

Now again without a union, the support staff soon became disenchanted.

“The board was heavy-handed in its leadership, and, despite some monetary gains, we were no better off than before,” Jecevicus said.

That led to the re-affiliation vote in 2001. But there was more drama and chaos to come.

Over about two years, the Salem district experienced a gut-wrenching failed referendum and the subsequent recall of some board members. In addition, Stollenwerk came under increasing criticism from the board. Through all this – from January 2002 to July 2003 – the ESP staff was trying to negotiate a new contract.

“We would get a different board member at nearly every negotiation meeting,” Moore recalled. There was little or no communication between board members, so negotiations were continually stalled. But ESP unity grew, a factor Moore said played a huge role.

“Jan was able to recruit support from every classification – food services, custodial, instructional assistants and secretaries,” Moore said.

The resulting contract includes an average salary increase of 3% per cell in each year of the three-year contract, some improvement in insurance, and $100 remuneration per post-secondary credit. Previously, “just cause” was “a huge laundry list,” Moore said. Now, “just cause” language is consistent with the teachers’ contract.

Things have since improved substantially in the district.

“The new board members (only one of the original board is left) realized the members have a better idea of what works internally than they did,” Moore said.

The new board members “have respect for the union and recognize it as an entity to be reckoned with,” Moore added. In addition, Stollenwerk, under increasing criticism from the board, has left the district.

SLUE has awarded the Salem Grade ESP its Energizer Award, a remarkable accomplishment for a first contract.

As for the Salem ESP members, “They’ve really come around,” Jecevicus said. They are more unified. In addition, she said, in a district atmosphere that is not consumed by conflict and chaos, they are finding out how much they can accomplish for themselves – and others.

In May, they helped organize and run the First Annual Salem Walk, raising money to educate the community on ways to prevent obesity.

"The proceeds from this walk will help kids pay for sports and combat childhood obesity. It will also help further support staff unity,” Jecevicus said.

Posted May 28, 2004