ABC School District Employees Speak Up After District Denies Study Results

 

A salary study commissioned by ABC Unified School District (ABCUSD) found that its custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and trade workers are among the lowest paid among other area school districts.  Despite their own research's suggestion to increase wages, ABCUSD is choosing to do nothing instead.

ABCUSD and the employee union (AFSCME Local 2229) had previously negotiated to conduct the salary study. Local 2229 represents ABCUSD's custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and trade workers (electricians, carpenters and HVAC technicians).  

The study compared six jointly selected school districts and the study was completed in June 2023.  In all job categories, ABCUSD employees were paid below average and in most categories, were last place or second to last. Since the studies completion, the Union has looked at even more districts and has found this situation to be generally true.  For example, the top salary for mechanics at ABC District is below the starting salary at Bellflower Unified School District, a district a mere five miles away.  The custodians at ABC District earn 10% less than the average custodian salary in the districts studied.

 

The consultant who conducted the study recommended a minimum five percent increase for all positions.

The District, however, is choosing to do nothing except a standard Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA).  The employees redid the study for a number of positions for the 2023-2024 school year and found the raise offered by the District would not bring employees any closer to average.  This is because surrounding districts received the same COLA.  In fact, in some job classifications such as custodians, the gap became even larger.

The District's management contends it does not need to offer competitive salaries because people enjoy working at ABC District and they have not had trouble recruiting. Their statement, of course, ignores the voices of their own employees.

Local 2229's President Tony Ballardo expanded on his discussions with ABCUSD management. "When we confronted the District about their own data, they respnded that 'People don't want to leave the District, so the District doesn't need to pay employees more. They think we're happy with our salaries!"

Their statement is also demonstrably false. There have been several positions, including bus drivers, which have had to be reposted due to a lack of response.  Further, the quality of applicants has decreased.  In previous years, all employees passed probation.  This past school year saw several new hires fail to pass probation, signifying a lack of quality.

Andrew Perry, AFSCME's elected representative for southern LA County said, "The mere fact that ABCUSD's management is trying to cover up their own employees voices, while practically lying about their own experience in recruiting, shows me that they not only don't give a damn about their employees, but they also think the parents and residents within their district are fools."

 

Contact school board members and tell them to pay ABC employees a wage that recognizes their value to the District. ABCUSD's district office can be reached at (562) 926-5566, or fill out the District's complaint forms.

AFSCME is the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.