2022-23 ESP Negotiations



ESP Ratification Vote being held April 6th

The ratification vote for the 2022-23 ESP Contract will be held electronically from 7 AM to 5 PM on Thursday, April 6, 2022.

WHO VOTES? All members of ESP bargaining unit regardless of BTU membership will vote on the tentative agreement summarized in the March 29, 2023 entry below AND specified in the tentative agreement linked to above.

PROCESS. Watch your Broward Schools email inbox (or the primary email address you have on file in the ESS system) for your ballot on Thursday morning, April 6 beginning at 7 am. The email will be from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com. If you do not receive your ballot by noon that day (not before) please send an email requesting a new ballot to communications@btuonline.com

The results will be announced to the entire bargaining unit shortly after the close of voting.  If approved, the School Board will vote on ratification at an upcoming School Board meeting.

We encourage you to read the entire text of the tentative agreements linked to above before casting your vote. On behalf of your negotiations team, we urge you to vote "yes" to ratify the MOU and agreements.


Tentative Agreement Reached

March 29, 2023 - Session #2 of 2022-23 Contract Negotiations

BTU's Education Support Professionals bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with the District for 2022-23 compensation and three contract articles. A ratification vote will take place on April 6th. Watch your email for details.

Compensation

Salary increase of at least 4% for Program Assistants, Teacher Assistants, and Classroom Assistants retroactive to July 1, 2022. (Note: Classroom Assistants on the first 5 steps already received their increase, which was in excess of 4%, in October when their hourly rate was raised to $15/hr.)

Article 17 (A) Wages
One-time bonus of $1000 (non-recurring, non-FRS eligible) for all Program Assistants, Teacher Assistants, and Classroom Assistants.
__________

Article 6 (E) Basic Annual Work Calendar
All ESP employees will work a 188-day calendar, returning to work during preplanning for an additional planning day.
__________

Article 20 Term of Agreement
Extends the agreement between the Broward Teachers Union Education Support Professionals and the District through the 2025-26 school year.
__________


Read the tentative agreement here.

Not included in the tentative agreement are changes proposed by BTU to Article 17. Changes to Article 17 (Q) incentives will be discussed when the Labor-Management Committee meets. Changes to Article 17 (T) Longevity were rejected by the District but will be revisited during the 2023-2024 negotiations.



March 6, 2023 - Session #1 of 2022-23 Contract Negotiations

At the opening session between the BCPS and the BTU Education Support Professionals, ground rules were shared and agreed upon and both sides presented and explained proposals which will be discussed and countered at the next session to be held on March 29th at BTU.

The School District Proposed:

  • Article 6 (F) Pre-Planning proposes that ESP employees on 1 187-day calendar will return to work on day earlier for an additional planning day.

  • Compensation: proposes 4% salary increase for all ESPs, retroactive to July 1, 2022, plus an additional 1-time bonus for all ESPs of $500.

BTU Proposed:
  • Article 17 (Q) Incentives:

    (Q2) Medical Procedure Incentive
    proposes providing all ESPs who perform the listed medical procedures receive the full $1500, eliminating language for "back up" individuals to only receive $200.

    (Q5) proposes eliminating Special Education Incentive from the list of choices for ESPs (effectively awarding it to all who qualify.)

  • Article 17 (T) Career/Longevity Incentive proposes an incentive payment on the employee's anniversary date as follows:
     – Completion of  5th year = $500
     – Completion of 10th year = $1000
     – Completion of 15th year = $1500
     – Completion of 20th year = $2000
     – Completion of 30th year = $2500

  • Compensation: counter-proposes a 4% salary increase for all ESPs, retroactive to July 1, 2022, plus an additional 1-time bonus for all ESPs of $500 with the exception of Program Assistants who will receive a 1-time bonus of $1000.
The next session will be held on March 29th at 9:00 AM @BTU.




ESP Ratification Vote - August 12


The ratification vote on the MOU outlining the distribution of referendum funds to Education Support Professionals for the 2022-23 school year will take place 8 AM to 5 PM on Friday, August 12, 2022.

WHO VOTES? All members of ESP bargaining unit regardless of BTU membership will vote on the tentative agreement summarized in the July 27, 2022 entry below AND specified in the tentative agreement linked to above.

PROCESS: Watch your Broward Schools email inbox (or the primary email address you have on file in the ESS system) for your ballot on Friday morning, August 12 beginning at 8 am. You may vote until 5:00 PM. The email will be from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com.

NOTE: Your voter ID belongs ONLY to you. DO NOT FORWARD YOUR BALLOT TO ANYONE. The ballot only be used by one person. If someone forwards a ballot email to you, do not attempt to use that voter ID. Every bargaining unit member will receive his or her own ballot.

If you do not receive your ballot by noon that day
(not before) please send an email requesting a new ballot to communications@btuonline.com

The results will be announced to the entire bargaining unit shortly after the close of voting.  If approved, the School Board will vote on ratification at a special School Board meeting..

We encourage you to read the entire text of the tentative agreements linked to above before casting your vote. On behalf of your negotiations team, we urge you to vote "yes" to ratify the MOU and agreements.


July 27, 2022 - Tentative Agreement reached on Referendum supplements

Tentative agreement was reached with the District on their proposed Referendum supplements for 2022-23 to all ESPs of 5.0% (of their base salary), which is higher than any other non-instructional group will receive. Members of the ESP bargaining unit will vote on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on this proposal.

NOTE: This is the final year of the four year referendum that was passed in 2018 and is not dependent upon August 23rd Vote to increase the referendum and extend it for four more years beginning in 2023.

The next session will be held on Thursday, August 25th at 10:00 am at BTU.


ESP Negotiations



Negotiations Schedule

March 6 • 11 am @ BTU

March 29 • 9 am @ BTU







04/06/23