After more than six months of contract negotiations, Ventura Unified School District and its two unions have been unable to reach an agreement.
Conflicting over the district’s contribution to employees’ healthcare benefits, Ventura Unified, Ventura Unified Education Association and Ventura Education Support Professionals Association declared an impasse May 7.
A neutral mediator, appointed by the California Public Employee Relations Board, will now assist the parties in reaching a resolution. If the mediation process is not successful, the union representatives said they could initiate a strike.
“My No. 1 concern is that the district is trying to solve its budget issues on the backs of the people who work directly with students,” VUEA President Sarah McLaughlin said. “It doesn’t seem like they understand how what they’re asking is going to hurt the employees.”
District spokesperson Marieanne Quiroz did not respond to The Star’s questions by deadline.
In a May 7 news release, she wrote that the district is “committed to working through this process towards our goal of reaching an agreement, because that is what is best for our students.”
The district currently pays 100% of health benefits for the majority of employees, which cost $26.6 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year and is expected to cost more in the coming years.
Affected by declining enrollment, decreased state and federal funding and rising operational costs, Ventura Unified faces a multimillion-dollar deficit. Seeking to reduce its expenses, the district recently formed a school closures advisory committee and approved the layoffs of what amounts to more than 45 full-time positions.
The district’s most recent proposal to the unions includes the implementation of a cost-sharing model for health benefits, including no-cost options, as well as a 2% salary increase for all employees.
McLaughlin and VESPA President Carol Peek said the district’s characterization of the proposed benefits is misleading.
A hard cap on the district’s insurance payments, even with the no-cost options, would result in employees either paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket each month or being priced out of insurance entirely, the presidents said.
“Any extra cost, whether it comes from the front end or the back end, is really detrimental to our employees,” said Peek, also a campus supervisor. “We can barely pay for food, utilities and gas, especially with prices going up, so this would be another hardship.”
Even with a 2% raise, a cap would still cause most employees to lose money, the two said.
“For classroom teachers or classified employees, that 2% wouldn’t begin to cover the extra expenses related to healthcare, whether we’re paying a premium each month or using a lesser plan with a high deductible,” McLaughlin said. “For those who are not in upper management, it is ultimately a pay cut.”
The unions’ counterproposal involved forgoing a salary increase for the current and upcoming school year in order to maintain the current health benefit structure with no cost-sharing.
“That’s our good faith effort of helping with that cost,” McLaughlin said. “We do understand declining enrollment and the big picture, and truly nobody wants the district in poor financial shape.”
Though the union leaders said it is highly unusual to declare an impasse, they remain optimistic about reaching an agreement with the help of a mediator.
They also, however, remain steadfast in advocating for their members and ensuring the district prioritizes the members in the budget.
“We’re here to take care of students, and we owe it to our members who work with students daily to do the best that we can for them,” Peek said.
Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Fund to Support Local Journalism.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura Unified, unions at impasse on contract. Here’s what’s at stake
Reporting by Makena Huey, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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