Wilmette D39’s support staffers could strike beginning Nov. 10

Nearly 200 public-school employees in Wilmette could go on strike next week if a new contract isn’t reached.

The Wilmette Support Staff Union — which reportedly represents 183 nurses, custodians, paraprofessionals, tech staffers and mroe in Wilmette Public Schools District 39 — on Thursday, Oct. 30, filed a 10-day strike notice with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, giving the sides until Nov. 10 to reach an agreement before a strike is possible.

More than 90% of voting union members authorized the potential strike.

Union representatives say in a press release that the compensation for district support staff is among the lowest in the area, and among other concerns, the district’s offered wage increases are insufficient.

“We hope to avoid any disruption to learning and the school schedule, but we’ll do what we must to ensure that the District invests in attracting and retaining support staff by reaching a fair agreement that brings our pay into alignment with surrounding districts,” said Michelle McGregor, Transportation Coordinator and WSSU president.

The District 39 Board of Education sent a message to district families, signed by Board President Anne Hart, following the union’s vote to strike. In it, the board says it is working to balance support for district employees with a duty to community taxpayers.

“The Board deeply values our support staff and the vital role they play in our schools,” the message says. “We remain committed to reaching an agreement that honors their important contributions and serves all stakeholders while responsibly planning for the District’s long-term financial stability.”

The Wilmette Support Staff Union’s contract with the district expired in August, and the sides reportedly have been locked in negotiations on a new agreement since April.

Statements from the union and the board say that they have met 11 times since April, including eight times between April and June. A federal mediator reportedly led the latest three sessions, all since August.

According to the board’s most recent message, it has offered at least 5.25% increases for all support staff, plus larger increases for nurses (20%), head custodians (13.59%), AM custodians (11.05%) and others.

The latest offer reportedly also includes raises of between 2.5%-4% in each of the next three years, maintains current employee healthcare ratios and adds three paid holidays for 10-month employees.

The School Board says that, with its latest offer, district support staff wages would “compare favorably” with neighboring school districts.

The union, though, says the proposal “will not fix the issues,” and a union proposal from Oct. 23 says that “living wages are a big part of” the issue. In that counteroffer, the union is asking for at least $3 per hour more per support staffer, while the district’s proposed 5.25% would be closer to $1 per hour more for an employee earning $21 per hour.

Additionally, according to the union’s press release, District 39 has support-staff shortages that are negatively affecting staffers and students. The current wages, the union says, are contributing to retention and hiring problems.

Elizabeth Candido, a longtime Wilmette resident and district paraprofessional, said in the release that she makes $29,000 a year and the community expects more from District 39.

“Like all taxpayers in our community, I expect the Board of Education to invest in what our students need, including the staff who serve them,” said Candido, also the union’s vice president. “The low wages this board is perpetuating do not reflect my neighbors’ values and do a disservice to our students.”

While both sides say they hope to avoid a strike, the School Board says it is “preparing contingency plans,” such as possible school closures and e-learning, if a strike comes to fruition.

“We are exploring what that might mean, and we will communicate plans with families, teachers and staff as soon as more is known,” the School Board’s message says. “Contingency plans in the case of a strike may include the possibility of implementing the District’s Emergency School Closure Procedures with days made up at the end of the school year, implementation of remote eLearning, or operating school with some adjustments to scheduling and services.”

Hart’s message concludes, “The Board remains committed to the bargaining process and to working toward a successor agreement that is fair to employees and responsible to the Wilmette community.”

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