HARMAR: The union representing Allegheny Valley School District's custodial and maintenance workers and the school board were unable to reach an agreement Tuesday night in a dispute over an open groundskeeper position.
The board voted unanimously, 9-0, Tuesday night to hire subcontractor JPS Landscape for $38,810 instead of retaining the job, which has been vacant since an employee retired earlier this year.
JPS Landscape will now be responsible for outdoor maintenance at the district's three campuses and athletic fields, which will save the district at least $10,000 a year, according to calculations by district Business Manager John Zenone.
This work historically has been performed by union employees.
The board's decision came after an executive session during which it considered a settlement proposal from the Service Employees International Union Local 585 in Blawnox, which represents 16 district employees.
As part of the proposal, the union offered to allow the district to subcontract the landscaping maintenance for one year under the condition that the work would be restored to union workers the following year, union representative Dino F. Bruno said.
"The real issue here is subcontracting," Bruno said. "It brings nothing back to the community, and the taxpayers lose control."
Bruno said he had hoped the board would've postponed its decision on whether to accept the landscaping bid until a settlement could be reached.
"Their proposal just wasn't acceptable to the board," board president Scott Redman said. "But we remain ready, willing and able to have further discussions."
The union filed an unfair labor practice charge last month with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board over the district's alleged refusal to bargain for the groundskeeper position.
Bruno said the union likely will amend these charges based on the board's decision Tuesday.
"It's going to get nasty," he said.
