Pasadena Unified to Discuss Salary Increases for District Employees

The Pasadena Board of Education plans to meet with labor representatives in closed session during a special meeting Thursday to talk about the possibility of increasing School District employee salaries.

The special meeting agenda includes a single item: a “conference” with district labor negotiators to discuss the status of ongoing negotiations with the United Teachers of Pasadena, the California School Employees Association, Teamsters, and unrepresented employees.

The process is part of the district’s normal annual routine, which takes place after the governor releases the proposed state budget, said Board of Education Member Scott Phelps.

“Under state law each year, there are discussions about updating certain articles of that contract,” Phelps said. “So the district team will be reporting to the board about the status of those negotiations.

“Usually, every year, salary and healthcare benefits are discussed. And then there are a few other articles that can be discussed,” Phelps said. “The board will be providing direction to staff about trying to come to a resolution on salary increases and other things.”

Phelps said he believed a deal was already close with respect to salary increases for 2021, retroactive from July of last year.

“So we’re discussing that, and there may be some discussions about trying for a multi-year agreement. So not only a small salary increase for 2021, but maybe for 2022 — a different, separate salary increase that would add on to the one that I think we’re close to agreement on for 2021,” he said.

Thursday’s Special Meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for 3 p.m. and can be viewed online at pusd.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=15.

The agenda can be viewed online at pusd.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=569&dataid=27553&FileName=Special%20Meeting%20Agenda%2001212021.pdf.