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Contract Highlights:
A Primer of Rights and Benefits
for Paraprofessionals
Dear Newly-hired Paraprofessional:
Welcome to the Boston Public Schools. This memo
has been written to acquaint you with some of the major benefits and rights
that all members of the para bargaining unit enjoy.
- Contract and Salary Awards
- Salary Step Placement
- Sick and Personal Days
- Health & Welfare Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Tremont Credit Union
- Joining the B.T.U.
- Union Dues
- Union Operations
Contract and Salary Awards
Length of Work Day
The work day for all paraprofessionals shall be either six hours and ten minutes, seven hours and fifteen minutes, or eight hours.
- Paraprofessionals shall have a duty free lunch of at least thirty minutes scheduled at a reasonable time as the schedule for the school permits.
- In addition, paraprofessionals now get a 10 minute break during the day.
Hourly Salary Rate
Note:
- the daily rate for paraprofessionals who work six hours and ten minutes is the hourly rate times 6.17;
- the daily rate for paraprofessionals who work seven hours and fifteen minutes is the hourly rate times 7.27;
- and the daily rate for paraprofessionals
who work eight hours is the hourly rate time eight.
YEAR 2: 09 /01/07 - 01/31/08
3.00%
Basic Paraprofessional Rate
Base
30 Credits
60 Credits
90 Credits
BA
Step 1 (basic rate)
14.80
16.07
17.27
18.45
19.69
Step 2 (after 3 years)
15.18
16.42
17.64
18.87
20.11
Step 3 (after 6 years)
15.54
16.81
18.05
19.25
20.49
Step 4 (after 9 years)
15.89
17.20
18.37
19.64
20.88
Security, Library, and Surround Care (PM) Rate, 1 to 1Paras
Step 1 (basic rate)
18.32
19.60
20.81
22.02
23.26
Step 2 (after 3 years)
18.72
19.96
21.17
22.39
23.63
Step 3 (after 6 years)
19.09
20.32
21.60
22.81
24.05
Step 4 (after 9 years)
19.42
20.73
21.91
23.18
24.42
Community Field Coordinator Rate
Step 1 (basic rate)
24.33
25.61
26.83
28.01
29.25
Step 2 (after 3 years)
24.71
25.97
27.24
28.41
29.65
Step 3 (after 6 years)
25.09
26.37
27.58
28.80
30.04
Step 4 (after 9 years)
25.54
26.77
27.91
29.22
30.46
02/01/08 - 08/31/08
Basic Paraprofessional Rate
Base
30 Credits
60 Credits
90 Credits
BA
Step 1 (basic rate)
15.03
16.30
17.50
18.68
19.92
Step 2 (after 3 years)
15.41
16.65
17.87
19.10
20.34
Step 3 (after 6 years)
15.77
17.04
18.28
19.48
20.72
Step 4 (after 9 years)
16.12
17.43
18.60
19.87
21.11
Security, Library, and Surround Care (PM) Rate, 1 to 1Paras
Step 1 (basic rate)
18.55
19.83
21.04
22.25
23.49
Step 2 (after 3 years)
18.95
20.19
21.40
22.62
23.86
Step 3 (after 6 years)
19.32
20.55
21.83
23.04
24.28
Step 4 (after 9 years)
19.65
20.96
22.14
23.41
24.65
Community Field Coordinator Rate
Step 1 (basic rate)
24.56
25.84
27.06
28.24
29.48
Step 2 (after 3 years)
24.94
26.20
27.47
28.64
29.88
Step 3 (after 6 years)
25.32
26.60
27.81
29.03
30.27
Step 4 (after 9 years)
25.77
27.00
28.14
29.45
30.69
Salary Step Placement
If you have college credits, you must submit an official college transcript to the Office of Human Resources in order to receive your correct pay rate.
Your documentation MUST be accompanied by an "PSO-3" form requesting the new salary step. Do not wait to file these forms, as credit is retroactive under only certain conditions. (Do NOT assume that the recruitment office or anyone else who may have your credentials on file has forwarded any of your credentials to the proper authority for processing. You have to follow up on this yourself.) As always, feel free to call me for a full explanation.
All credentials and applications must be filed with the Office of Human Resources directly, preferably in person. Do not rely on your building administrator to do this for you. For all important personnel submissions to Court St., the following is STRONGLY advised: Do not mail, either by interdepartmental mail or by U.S. mail. Instead, hand-deliver two copies of each document to the Office of Human Resources, which is on the 3rd floor. Have all copies date-stamped, and retain one of each copy.
Sick and Personal Days
Commencing with the first year of service (following a ninety-day probationary period) and annually thereafter, each September, fifteen (15) days of sick leave shall be granted to each paraprofessional in actual service on or before October 1 st of that year. Two (2) personal days are also granted each year. Unused sick and personal days accumulate year to year. You may use personal day(s) for any reason with notice to the building administrator. You need not give a reason for requesting a personal day, and you may take the day(s) anytime you wish. (There are a few minor contractual restrictions regarding the use of personal leave. Consult your building representative for a full explanation.)
A 10-minute break has been added to the paras' workday with the 2003-2006 contract. Also, days are given for bereavement. For a complete list, please consult the contract.
You will automatically receive union mail if you complete and return the enclosed application for union membership.
Health & Welfare Benefits
Paras are eligible to partake in benefits provided by the union's Health and WelfareFund. Major benefits include a dental insurance plan and an eye care center. For enrollment in the plan, call the Health and Welfare Office (located at Union headquarters) at 617-288-5883. Ask for a brochure which gives a detailed explanation of all benefits.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is provided through the City's Group Insurance Office at # 635-4570. Call that number for more information, or visit at Boston City Hall, Room 807. You have only 60 calendar days from your first day of service to register.
Tremont Credit Union
Paras are also eligible to join the Tremont Credit Union, with offices located at BTU headquarters and at the Braintree Executive Park, 150 Grossman Drive, Braintree, MA 02184. Through the Credit Union you may authorize payroll deductions for savings and checking, arrange for a loan, and take care of many other banking needs. To join, bring $25.00 and a pay stub or a copy of your individual contract to either office and fill out an application. For more information, call 781-843-5626.
Joining th B.T.U.
All of the above benefits have come as a result of collective bargaining between the BTU and the Boston School Committee.
As exclusive bargaining agent, the BTU negotiates the contract, enforces thecontract, and promotes the general welfare of the membership.
As a member of the BTU, you'll also belong to the AFT-Massachusetts (AFT-Mass), the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). You will begin to receive monthly mailings from the BTU, AFT-Mass andthe AFT.
Joining with nearly 7000 others makes us a stronger union, better able to help each of us. We encourage you to join. (Consult your building representative for a copy of the contract.)
Union dues and agency fee this school year will be $24.01 per check for paraprofessionals.
Union Operations
Our membership meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 4 PM at the Union headquarters, Bayside Mall in Dorchester.
Each school has Union Building Representatives, elected to serve the staff in the building in dealings with the administration. The building representative is also the first line of communications between the building staff and the Union office. Many questions can be easily and quickly answered at the building level by asking the building representative.
The Union employs six full-time officers and staff to serve the membership. Office hours are 9 AM to 5 PM. The office is open all weekdays including school vacations, but is closed on state, local and national holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Good Friday. The office number is 617-288-2000. A taped message which gives information on current issues can be heard 24 hours a day at 617-288-2463.
The Boston Teachers Union provides a variety of services;
we encourage you to take advantage of them. If you have any questions,
please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
Jenna Fitzgerald
Para/Substitute Field Representative