Highlands approves contract for custodians, maintenance workers

Custodians and maintenance workers in Highlands School District have an early-retirement offer along with a new contract.

The new three-year agreement between the district and workers with Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ is retroactive to June 30 and runs until June 30, 2022.

The contract covers about 30 employees.

Union spokeswoman Traci Benjamin called the agreement a good one.

“We were able to work well with the district,” she said. “It’s a good contract. The members are happy with it.”

According to the salary schedule, hourly pay rates will increase by between 3% and 3.7% over the life of the contract.

The district has two classifications for custodians — ones classified as custodian I work eight hours a day year-round, while ones classified as custodian II work seven hours a day only during the school year, according to buildings and grounds Supervisor Chris Reiser.

For custodian I workers, the hourly rate ranges from $13.50 in the first year of the contract to $24.10 in the third year. For custodian II workers, the range is from $12.50 to $18.80. Maintenance worker pay ranges from $17.57 in the first year to $26.55 in the third year.

There were no major changes made to health benefits, Benjamin said.

District officials did not respond to questions about the health benefits.

Along with the contract, the school board also approved a retirement incentive.

According to a memorandum of understanding, members of the bargaining unit who submit an irrevocable letter of retirement before June 30, 2020, will get a lump-sum payment of $7,500 into a 403(b) retirement account.

The payment will be in addition to any retirement payment provided for in the contract.

Benjamin said she did not know how many employees may take the offer.