Argo Community High School Contract Passed!

Congratulations to Argo Community High School members who recently voted YES for their new contract.

This contract will be in effect for three years. Here are some highlights of the new agreement:

· RETROACTIVE to July 1, 2024, all employees get a 4% raise.

· July 1, 2025, all custodians 4% raise; grounds and maintenance 3.4% raise

· July 1, 2026, all employees no less than 2.75% and no more than 5% raise based on CPI (inflation) the % will be determined by the total 2025 inflation percent.

Differentials

Second Shift $0.60 per hour differential that will be part of your rate of pay for paid time off purposes.

Third Shift $0.90 per hour differential that will be part of your rate of pay for paid time off purposes.

Lead Differentials

1st shift Lead $2.00 per hour.

2nd and 3rd shift $3.00 per hour.

Improved Working Conditions

The District shall not subcontract any work traditionally performed by bargaining unit members. This protects union members from possible layoff or loss of vacant jobs due to subcontracting.

Substitute Custodians may be used after Full Time Custodians are offered overtime. For anticipated overtime management must post for 48hrs and ask for volunteers- overtime will be awarded by seniority rotated through all workers. For last minute call offs, management must send a group text message seeking volunteers to work overtime whoever accepts within the first hour of receiving the message will be awarded the overtime. Substitute Custodians shall accrue pro-rated seniority and may be awarded full time custodian positions AFTER the opening has been posted for lateral transfers under Article 8, Section 5.

Management must post overtime assignments for no less than 48 hours, if they do not, they cannot mandate anyone to work overtime.

Employees should clock in or our no more than 5 minutes before or after their shift.

If you are sick, a family member can call in for you and if you fail to call off at least two hours before your shift starts you may be disciplined but no longer suspended for 5 days without pay.

Grievances must be filed within 20 workdays (four weeks) of the occurrence giving rise to the grievance or when the employee knows or should have known of the issue. The Union can decide if the fourth step grievances may be heard by either the Superintendent or the Board.

Probationary period will increase to 120 days (from 60). All employees are covered by the contract as soon as they are hired, but only covered by just cause for discipline until after the probationary period ends.

New employees shall meet with their Union representative for 30 minutes on paid time within 5 days of being hired.

Improved Benefits

Custodian employees shall be reimbursed up to $60.00 a year to purchase work shoes. Maintenance employees shall be reimbursed up to $75.00.

Martin Luther King day becomes a paid holiday off work. Casmir Pulaski day continues to be a workday.

Employees may carry over up to 40hours of accrued vacation to the next year if you have not used it all by April 30th. Vacation request must be made three workdays in advance.

The District will pay employees to attend in person meetings during work time on each shift to learn about health insurance enrollment options. HMO continues be free to employees.

Part-time employees can accrue sick leave.

Three days of paid Bereavement leave is available for domestic partners, parent in laws and grandchildren. You can use sick leave or personal leave to supplement the bereavement leave. The District may request documentation of the death in the family.

I’m very happy with our new contract and am proud of what our unit was able to achieve!

Jose A