15 Dec AUSD Classified Staff Gets Raise, but Teachers Still Rallying for Better Deal

The Antioch Unified school board on Dec. 10 approved a 1.5% pay raise for school staff including maintenance and clerical workers. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

Maintenance workers, clerical staff and other classified staff in the Antioch Unified School District are getting a 1.5% raise and continued fully paid healthcare.

The district formally approved the deal with Chapter 85 of the California School Employees Association at Wednesday’s school board meeting, about two weeks after reaching a tentative agreement on Nov. 24.

“We know how important these benefits are for many of our employees, and it’s important for the board too. These supports matter, and we want to continue to provide for our staff,” said board President Jag Lathan.

Starting Jan. 1, the 1.5% increase will go into effect for all salary schedules, and the first of three years of continued Kaiser benefits will begin. Those fully paid benefits are covered through the end of 2028 under the agreement.

The district has increased pay to Chapter 85 members by 26.5% since the 2020-21 fiscal year, according to district data.

“That’s some of the highest in the country. We are some of the highest — if not the highest — paid districts in the county,” said Lathan.

Because of increased one-time COVID funding, increased cost-of-living adjustments during COVID, and high reserves, Lathan said the changes were possible.

Still, cuts will be necessary for the district. Staff told the board this week that it’s projected to deficit spend by over $12.8 million this fiscal year. That’s in addition to $14.7 million in reductions the district has to make for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Lathan said that means the district has to adjust its fiscal planning, but that’s with or without raises.

“We still want to make sure we take care of our employees,” she added.

Staff said AUSD will have to both increase student attendance and reduce expenses to balance its budget.

AUSD is currently negotiating salaries and benefits with its teachers’ union, the Antioch Education Association, which is asking for a 3% raise and fully paid health benefits through the end of the contract in 2028. AEA initially proposed a 4% pay raise.

Singing altered versions of Christmas songs — “Oh, what fun it would to be to have a living wage” and “On the fifth day of Christmas, my union fought for me: five fewer students, four days of prep…” — teachers again rallied ahead of the school board meeting to greet elected members before they went into closed session.

In its Nov. 17 proposal, the district maintained its offer of a 1% lump-sum payment to teachers, but said it will continue fully paid health benefits through the end of 2026.

If the district has available funding for the following two years, it said it will extend those benefits until the end of each year.

Bob Carson, president of the teachers union, previously told The Pulse that the proposed payment is less than the 2.7% the district received in COLA funding.

“We are also hopeful that AEA will continue working with the district towards securing fully paid family medical benefits for their members as soon as possible,” Lathan added. “This does remain a priority.”