Union Says It Would Accept Board's Aide, Custodian Offer

The Hopatcong Education Association told the Board of Education Monday it would accept the board’s salary offer for paraprofessionals that board president Clifford Lundin mentioned on Hopatcong Patch in response to a Sept. 12 article.

In a series of responses to comments to that article about a contract language impasse with the teachers union, Lundin explained that the unit of the union that represents teachers aides, cafeteria workers and custodians has not been able for three years to reach an agreement on a new contract.

He said that the unit rejected the board’s last offer “which was in the range of 2.4 percent per year over four years.”

On Monday, teachers union president Susan Hill, speaking during the public portion of the board meeting, said the union would accept the figure that Lundin stated on Patch.

In response, Lundin said he would advise the negotiating committee of the union’s statement and inform the board’s attorney.

Hill said the paraprofessionals’ salary was the only item not settled in that contract.

The unit represents about 80 aides and 40 custodians and support staff.

Lundin said the union had been seeking a $1.60 per hour increase for the aides. The board offered 95 cents per hour, he said.

Teachers aides make “$10-plus” an hour and custodians make “$9-plus” an hour, Lundin said.