By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – We’ve learned more about the tentative agreement between paraeducators and the Port Angeles School District that ended the 5-day strike and got schools back open on April 15.

PAPEA Union President Rebecca Winters told KONP that bringing in a mediator to encourage a compromise in the negotiations went a long way toward getting schools back open.

While they didn’t get the 3.7% cost of living increase they were seeking, which she says would have cost the district $128,000, Winters says they did agree to a fair wage increase structure.

“I would say, overall, I agree that it was a fair compromise to get back to school. We utilized the full $128,000 to create the new salary that went from a five step salary to an 11 step salary with longevity included, and that is something we have been seeking for years. That was a huge win, because it allows for my members to move up on the pay scale every year instead of sitting stagnant for five years in row.”

The paras agreed to an approximate 50 cent per hour raise in their baseline pay, which ranges from about $22 per hour to $29 per hour, depending on experience. Winters said they also agreed to a 50 cent per hour raise for paras that work with special ed students. That raise will kick in next school year.

Overall, Winters says the increases will capture 3-to-3.4% of the rate of inflation over the next two years, which is pretty close to what they sought in the first place on the wage issue.

Winters said the paraeducators were deeply grateful to the community for their support during the strike, and she pointed out one unintended benefit of the strike, as well.

“The teachers were incredible. We can’t thank the teachers enough. And what it did was, it grew, or we grew, as a unit, as a team. We grew together professionally and personally, more friendships were made. What it did was made the employees, the educators, and those classified members that also joined in on supporting us, that much closer in unifying  what we do here when we show up to work every day.”

The agreement is not official until approved by the School Board, which is expected to be taken up at their next scheduled meeting on April 25.

(Photo courtesy of PAPEA)