Union Negotiations

Negotiations Update #4 – March 13, 2021

NUSD and NFT have reached an agreement (attached, 3/13 1015AM Agreement). NUSD thanks NFT for a collaborative and timely negotiations process.

Negotiations Update #3 – March 12, 2021

NUSD and NFT negotiations continued on March 12, 2021. The session was productive and collaborative, with both sides demonstrating flexibility and compromise. There are a few language items that still need agreement, but NUSD believes an agreement is near.

After an exchange of counter proposals from both sides, and towards the end of the session, NFT provided a counter proposal to NUSD (attached, 3/12 6:15PM NFT to NUSD), and NUSD provided a counter proposal to NFT (attached, 3/12 6:45PM NUSD to NFT).

NFT will be reviewing NUSD’s latest counter proposal. NUSD looks forward to resuming negotiations on Monday, March 15th as we work together towards a resolution.

Negotiations Update #2 – March 8, 2021

As previously updated, the negotiation process began Friday, March 5, 2021, with the members of the negotiation teams for NUSD and NFT meeting to discuss the current Hybrid MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).  Negotiations is a process where two parties come together to reach a mutual agreement, generally starting apart and ending in a compromise on which both parties agree.

NFT and NUSD negotiations continued on March 8, 2021.  Here is an update.

On March 8, 2021, NUSD provided a formal proposal to NFT (attached, 3/8 NUSD to NFT) centered around:

  • Student physical distancing of 4 feet
  • Revised bell schedules for elementary and middle schools, effective March 23rd, to increase student in-person learning time
  • Compensation to members for materials or resources to support transitional learning
  • Planning time to members to support transitional learning

NFT reviewed and countered NUSD’s proposal (attached, 3/8 NFT to NUSD). NUSD has evaluated the counter proposal submitted by NFT.  Unfortunately, NFT’s counter proposal was rejected primarily due to the cost and some of the associated timelines. 

NUSD looks forward to resuming negotiations on Friday, March 12 and Monday, March 15 as we work together towards a resolution.

Negotiations Update #1 – March 5, 2021

Members of the negotiation teams for NUSD and NFT met to discuss the current Hybrid MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). 
 
NUSD expressed to NFT its interest in revising bell schedules that would increase student in-person learning, and its interest in supporting classroom teachers with resources that would support this change. NUSD also shared survey data from the recent staff and parent surveys regarding hybrid learning. NUSD also provided NFT with copies of draft bell schedule ideas that would increase student in-person learning for their consideration. 
 
No formal proposals were exchanged, and no agreements were reached. Both teams are scheduled to resume negotiations on Monday, March 8, 2021.
September 13, 2019 – February 12, 2020

Negotiations Update #8 – February 12, 2020

On February 11, 2020, the Novato Federation of Teachers advised NUSD that the Tentative Agreement was ratified by its members.  The Tentative Agreement will now be recommended for approval to the Board of Education.

Negotiations Update #7 – February 6, 2020

On January 31, 2020, members of the negotiations teams for NUSD and NFT met and reached a Tentative Agreement.

The Tentative Agreement is subject to ratification by the Novato Federation of Teachers (NFT) and approval by the Novato Unified School District’s (NUSD) Board of Education. The District and NFT would like to thank the entire NUSD community in making this Tentative Agreement possible.

Negotiations Update #6 – January 15, 2020

On January 9, 2020, members of the negotiations teams for NUSD and NFT met and continued negotiations. 

Negotiations have been positive, and both sides are making progress towards the goal of an agreement. Both NUSD and NFT expressed an interest in resolving negotiations by focusing on salary, and exchanged salary proposals for consideration and further discussion. 

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on January 17, 2020.

Negotiations Update #5 – December 13, 2019

On December 9, members of the negotiations teams for NUSD and NFT met and continued negotiations. Both sides made concessions with their proposals and agreed to supporting class sizes for SDC. 

NUSD provided a counter proposal to the proposal submitted by NFT on November 12. NUSD reinforced its November 7 proposal to NFT.

In addition to NUSD’s November 7 proposal, NUSD enhanced its proposal to include:

  • Establishing Special Education “hard cap” in SDC class sizes.

  • Including additional courses into total student contacts per day.

  • An additional quarter (0.25) percent on-schedule salary increase effective July 1, 2020, contingent on the passage of a parcel tax in 2020.

In essence, the District is proposing a 4.25% salary increase to NFT members over the course of two (2) years contingent on the support and passage of a 2020 parcel tax.

The District also shared with NFT that the State’s new estimate for 2020/2021 COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) has been reduced to 1.79%. This is a reduction from its previous estimate of 3.0%.

This proposal will result in budget deficits for the District, which will cause necessary reductions in programs and personnel moving forward.

NFT submitted a counter proposal to NUSD for consideration.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on January 9. NUSD looks forward to on-going, fair and fiscally responsible, negotiations with NFT.

Negotiations Update #4 – November 15, 2019

On November 7, 2019, members of the negotiations teams for NUSD and NFT met and continued negotiations. 

NUSD submitted a written proposal to NFT that outlined:

  • Revised elementary class size language consistent with current class size reduction legislation

  • Class size for Elementary SDC to not exceed fifteen (15) students

  • Class size for Secondary SDC to not exceed eighteen (18) students

  • Additional compensation formulas for SDC teachers should class sizes exceed those numbers

  • Language on including the intent to separate stipend in the contract

  • A one (1) percent on-schedule salary increase effective July 1, 2019

  • A two (2) percent on-schedule salary increase effective July 1, 2019 contingent on the passage of a parcel tax in 2020

  • A one (1) percent on-schedule salary increase effective July 1, 2020

In essence, the District is proposing a 4% salary increase to members of NFT over the course of two (2) years contingent on the support and passage of a 2020 parcel tax. This is in addition to the average 1.5% traditional step and column increase each year for most members of NFT. 

This increased proposal will result in budget deficits for the District, which will cause necessary reductions in programs and personnel moving forward.

NFT rejected the District’s proposal and submitted a counter proposal to the District on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. The counter proposal included a salary increase for 2019/2020 of 5% (which includes 1.5% contingent on the passage of a parcel tax). The District has costed NFT’s counter proposal to the amount of $3.8 million annually, with an initial one time cost of $7.0 million, for a total of $10.8 million for 2019/2020.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on December 9, 2019. NUSD looks forward to on-going, fair and fiscally responsible, negotiations with NFT.

Negotiations Update #3 – October 25, 2019

On October 21, members of the negotiations teams for NUSD and NFT met and continued negotiations. 

NFT provided information to NUSD regarding comparable salaries, health and welfare benefits, cost of living, budget projection history, and parcel tax history.

NUSD provided information to NFT regarding the Marin County Office of Education’s (MCOE) Budget Approval Letter (click for letter) for NUSD. Although the District’s budget has been approved by MCOE, MCOE expresses concern regarding the District’s budget over the next few years. 

NFT provided a verbal proposal to NUSD for salary increases of:

  • 7% for 2019/2020 (which includes 3% contingent on the passage of a parcel tax in 2019/2020)

  • 3% for 2020/2021

NFT also submitted a counter proposal for Physical Education class sizes and advised NUSD that its previous proposals submitted remain open for negotiations. Lastly, NFT advised it was withdrawing their proposal on a 20-year longevity salary schedule.

NUSD anticipates NFT’s current proposal, including previous proposals, remains between 12% – 13% for 2019/2020 and an additional 3% for 2020/2021. NFT interprets this calculation differently, and NUSD has reached out to NFT to meet and clarify calculations on both sides.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on November 7, 2019. NUSD looks forward to on-going, fair and fiscally responsible, negotiations with NFT.

Negotiations Update #2 – September 27, 2019

On September 23, 2019, members of the negotiations team for NUSD and NFT met and exchanged proposals.

The District discussed the financial impacts of declining enrollment, increases in required retirement contributions, increases in teacher salary step & column costs, and increasing special education costs relative to new revenue for the 2019/2020 school year. 

The District’s submitted proposal included a 1% on-schedule salary increase effective July 1, 2019. In addition, the District proposed language on an Intent to Separate stipend, as well as maintaining current contributions for medical coverage, and is open to discussion on other proposals submitted.

NFT submitted an additional proposal for special education class sizes at the secondary level. 

The total cost of NFT’s current proposal remains at approximately $5.4 million or the equivalent of 13%. This includes 8% for salary and longevity and 5% for additional costs associated with contract language. 

No agreements have been reached at this time, but the District looks forward to continued discussion with NFT on an agreement that is both fair and fiscally responsible.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume on Monday, October 21, 2019.

September 13, 2019 – Negotiations Update

On September 9, 2019, members of the District’s Negotiations Team, along with members of the Novato Federation of Teachers (NFT) Negotiations Team, met for a half-day of negotiations.

After the District provided an update of the current and future budget landscape, which showed deficit spending over the next three years, the District made an offer to increase the salary of NFT members by 1%.  NUSD is reviewing submitted proposals from NFT on articles that are open for negotiations and will respond to those proposals during our next negotiations session.

An offer of 1% to NFT members is approximately $415,000 annually, which unless other reductions are made district-wide, would result in continued deficit spending or necessitate budget reductions.

NFT brought further clarification to their initial offer which includes:

  • A 7% salary increase (at a cost of $2,900,000 annually).
  • Other changes to the collective bargaining agreement for an estimated additional $2,500,000 annually.
  • The total package of NFT’s initial offer is at least $5,400,000 annually or the equivalent of a 13% salary increase.

No agreements were reached at this time, however the District remains optimistic in collaboratively finding a fair and fiscally responsible agreement with NFT.

Negotiations are scheduled to continue on September 23, 2019.

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