Kent School District could face strike by custodians, maintenance workers

An union of nearly 200 custodians and maintenance workers voted to strike against the Kent School District (KSD) if a new contract agreement cannot be reached.

As with striking teachers, district leaders have yet to agree to terms with the American Federation of Teachers Union of Washington (AFT) union that represents custodians, maintenance workers and several other positions.

”AFT held a union meeting this past Saturday (Sept. 3) where we held an intent to strike vote depending on how we are treated at the bargaining table,” said Darren Garrett, AFT Kent classified president, in an Sept. 6 email. “The vote was unanimous for all in attendance as well as the no confidence vote on the board and superintendent.”

Similar to the teachers’ union, AFT voted no confidence in the Kent School Board and Superintendent Israel Vela. Teachers have been on strike since Aug. 25 as bargaining with the district continues.

“Neither the school board or superintendent has shown any interest in having the KSD bargaining team to meet and negotiate in good faith,” Garrett said. “Matter of fact, our union members (that work in administration) have seen both the school board and superintendent laughing and joking before and after board meetings. They are not taking any of the bargaining groups seriously.”

The Kent Reporter emailed several questions to the Kent School District for comment about the AFT contract and potential strike.

“The district cannot comment on these ongoing negotiations at this time,” according to a Sept. 6 email from a district spokesperson.

In addition to custodians and maintenance workers, the union also includes groundskeepers, food service drivers, distribution drivers, print shop operators and bus mechanics.

“We informed the district if they would give us a few bargaining dates before our arbitration date (Sept. 19) and they show a good faith effort to move forward, we would cancel the arbitration,” Garrett said. “But if they backpedal we would move forward to strike and walk out.”

Bargaining dates are set for Sept. 13, 15 and 16.

“The school district tried to divide us as skilled and unskilled employees,” Garrett said. “The state offered us 5.5% (pay increase) but KSD came back with a 2% for what they called skilled and 1% for the unskilled. We asked to be paid at minimum with surrounding school districts but we should be paid in the top three as Kent is the third largest school district on the west side of the Cascades and that’s been a past practice for the last 35 years I’ve worked here.”

A head custodian III makes $30.41 per hour, according to the AFT contract for 2021-2022 with KSD. A head custodian II makes $28.48 per hour and a head custodian I makes $26.54. The higher pay is to oversee more square footage and more employees. Base pay for a custodian is $23.34 per hour.

Pay per hour for other positions includes $36.47 or $30.33 for a transportation mechanic; $27.36 for a food service driver; and $28.49 for a heads groundskeeper.

The pay is about 14% below neighboring school districts, Garrett said.

“We started bargaining with KSD last spring,” Garrett said. “In all honesty, we should have been done by July at the latest, but KSD kept stonewalling us, telling us they had other bargaining groups they would have to deal with after us.”

The district also has yet to reach contract agreements with office workers and IT (Information Technology) employees.

“The union is hopeful for it but not holding our breath after watching how KSD is treating the other bargaining groups in negotiations currently,” Garrett said about reaching a contract agreement without a strike.