JAY – Bus driver/custodians and cafeteria workers will receive a 2.5 percent increase each year of a new three-year contract. However, they’ll be paying more for their health insurance.

The contract is retroactive to cover July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2005.

School Committee members ratified the two contracts Thursday night.

Committee Chairman Clint Brooks said Monday that committee members are “appreciative of diligent efforts of all parties to balance the desire for a fair contract while remaining sensitive to their responsibility to Jay taxpayers.”

“We look forward to a continued positive working relationship in the future with these valued employees,” Brooks said.

The 2.5 percent wage increase bumps bus drivers/custodians up to $14.36 per hour for July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003. In the second year of the contract, those wages will increase to $14.72 per hour, effective July 1 to June 30, 2004. And in the third year, the hourly wage increases to $15.09 per hour, effective July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005.

New employees will receive a starting pay of $1 less an hour for their first six months of employment.

Rates for health insurance co-payments in both bus drivers/custodian and cafeteria workers contracts are not to exceed the listed amounts.

Health insurance monthly co-payment rates for a standard or health choice plan from July 1, 2002, to May 1, 2003, were set at $10 for single plan, $15 for adult with child, $20 for two adults and $25 for a family plan.

From May 1 through June 30, 2003, the monthly rate for a health choice plan increases to $25 for a single, $30 for adult and child, $35 for two adults and $40 for a family. If an employee opts to continue with the standard plan, he or she would be responsible for the premium difference.

From July 1 to June 30, 2004, monthly co-payment rates for the health choice plan will increase to $40 for singles, $45 for adult with child, $50 for two adults and $55 for a family.

The monthly co-payment rates for a health choice plan in the last year of the contract increases to $55 single, $60 adult with child, $65 two adults and $70 family.

Under the Jay Cafeteria Workers’ Association contract, the kitchen manager’s hourly pay is set at $11.73 for 2002-03, $12.02 for 2003-04 and $12.32 for 2004-05. New hires in this category will receive $11.13, $11.52 and $11.82 per hour, respectively, in the years of the contract.

For 2002-03, cafeteria workers with less than seven years will receive $10.15 per hour; with seven to 14 years experience, $10.43 per hour; and with 15 or more years experience, $10.70.

In 2003-04 those hourly rates increase to $10.40, $10.68 and $10.97, respectively.

In the third year of the contract, the rates increase to $10.66, $10.94 and $11.24, respectively.

New hires will be paid less to start during a six-month probationary period.

Monthly co-payments for health insurance for standard or health choice plans from July 2002 to May 1 were set at $15 for single, $20 for adult with child, $25 for two adults and $30 family.

After May 1 through June 30, those monthly co-payments will increase to $25 single, $30 adult with child, $35 two adults and $40 family for a health choice plan. Employees desiring coverage under a standard plan are responsible for premium differences.

From July 1 through June 30, 2004, monthly co-payment rates increase to $35 single, $40 adult with child, $45 two adults and $40 family.

In the last year of the contract, co-pays increase to $45 single, $50 adult with child, $55 two adults and $60 family.

dperry@sunjournal.com