PAYNESVILLE -- The Paynesville Area School District and its food service workers have reached a tentative labor agreement, Superintendent Todd Burlingame said.
Burlingame expects the food service union members to vote on the contract sometime next week.
The workers' union, the Service Employees International Union Local 284, petitioned for mediation in September while it was negotiating a two-year contract with the district for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years. The workers' old contract expired June 30.
Holidays, personal days, severance and wages were sticking points during negotiations.
The tentative agreement calls for a 7.34 percent increase in wages and benefits over the two years, with a 4.77 percent increase this school year and a 2.57 percent increase in the 2006-07 school year.
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The district settled its contracts with teachers and custodians earlier this month and on Tuesday the School Board approved a contract for its buildings and grounds supervisor, Donnie Mayer.
Mayer will receive an 11 percent increase in wages and benefits over his two-year contract with a 6 percent increase this school year and a 5 percent increase in the 2006-07 school year.
Burlingame said the district settled higher with him than in contracts for other employees because he has obtained several certificates in the last two years. The district's contribution to his health insurance also was lower than most employees at $4,200, he said. Most employees receive a $4,700 contribution.
In the new contract, the district will pay $4,800 toward his insurance, Burlingame said.
