Valley View's New Proposal To Union Includes Increased Wages For Staff Members

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Valley View School District 365U sent a new proposal to the Local 604 union, which includes a market adjustment increase for all paraprofessional, security and maintenance staff, the District shared in a news release.

According to District documents, the District and the Valley View Council of Local 604 American Foundation of Teachers last agreed on a contract that spanned three school years (from 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25). Since the start of this school year a few weeks ago, teachers and staff have been working without a contract.

In a statement on Friday, the district said it appreciates input from staff and community members.

"The concerns that were raised at the recent Board meeting regarding the wages for paraprofessionals and security staff were issues that were not emphasized by the union during the bargaining sessions," the District said. "In the few days since the meeting, we have reviewed their wages and created a new wage offer for these positions as a result."

The new proposal, which was sent on Friday, would implement a market adjustment increase for all paraprofessional, security, and maintenance staff wages of $3 per hour during the second year in the contract. In addition, the paraprofessionals, security, and maintenance staff will continue to receive the wage increases that are offered to all of the Local 604 members in years 1 and 3 of the contract, the District said.

"We appreciate the efforts of our paraprofessionals, security, and maintenance staff. This increase is in addition to the creation of a new custodial position, in cooperation with the maintenance staff union stewards, that will help better address the needs of the District and the staff for that department," the District said.

In a previous statement last week, the District shared that an "impasse" was declared on negotiations between the District and the Local 604 in July.

The statement last week detailed some items that were offered on the last contract offer, including:

• Wage increases of 4.25 percent, 5 percent and 4 percent over three years
• 20 additional minutes added for high school teachers' contract time starting in the second year of the agreement
• A new insurance plan that "essentially keeps the same coverage but saves money to be directed to the employees."
• A new sick time accumulation plan
• A change to the pay schedule for maintenance leads

Patch has reached out to the Local 604 for comment.