District 88 offers food workers 1% increase

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- District 88 board members, Superintendent Harold Remme and Business Manager Donna Luhring met with the food service union employees Wednesday and presented a financial proposal that offers a 1 percent increase in wages for the employees.

Currently the lowest paid employee makes $7.25 an hour. Under the district's increase such an employee would make $7.32 an hour in 2001-2002 and $7.40 an hour in 2002-2003.

The highest paid food service employee makes $11.25 an hour. Under the proposed increase such an employee would make $11.36 an hour in 2001-2002 and $11.48 in 2002-2003.

The food service employees, represented by Donna Pittmann of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), had originally asked for a 50 cent increase in hourly wages for 2001-2002 and then another 50 cent increase for 2002-2003.

The district's proposal would raise the district's costs a total $5,547 in 2001-2002 and $10,506 in 2002-2003. Currently the district pays $199,263 in total costs for the food service employees.

The district pays $151,779 in total wages. Under the district's proposal the wages would increase to a total of $156,449 in 2001-2002, and $160,573 in 2002-2003.

The board stood by their decision to not change the employees current health insurance policies. The union had asked for 100 percent of the premium to be paid by the district for single coverage and for 90 percent of the premium to be paid for by the district for family coverage.

The board and the union agreed on language items dealing with retirement and sick leave issues.

The district and the food service employees will meet again in October and discuss the district's financial proposal and other unsettled language items.