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 be...

Cafeteria workers, maintenance, and bus drivers are all Local 2229  Bonnie Tyler sang an ‘80s anthem entitled “I Need a Hero.”  But the heroes of ABC Unified School District are not needed, at least that is the impression they’re getting from the the School Board.   The District’s representative told AFSCME Local 2229 that the Board gave a raise to the employees they most needed, the teacher s  who returned to schools to teach.  However, schools would not even be opened, much less remain open, without the work of essential workers like cafeteria and maintenance employees.  Community members, and other union members, these employees are asking for your support.  Please join AFSCME Local 2229 for a demonstration at the District Office on June 1 st  from  5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  The Board needs to understand these workers are just as essential to the District as the teachers. Throughout the pandemic, these workers: •  Replaced all the air...