The Great Falls Public Schools board approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Craft Council during their Sept. 22 meeting.
The Craft Council is a combination of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Local 233; Western States Regional Council of Carpenters – Local 82; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 82; Local 1922, Plumbers and Fitters – Local 41; and International Union of Operating Engineers – Local 400.
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The agreement for the group had expired on June 30 and the union members voted in favor of a two year agreement.
GFPS and the Craft Council agreed to an adjustment this school year to a 4 percent increase in wages per hour retroactive to July 1 and a three percent wage increase per hour for the 2026-2027 school year.
The new agreement also adds 50 cents to the base rate this school year for grounds staff and 25 cents next year.
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GFPS and the unions agreed to increase the district contribution to the electricians and carpenters insurance from $800 to $835 this school year and to $870 for the next school year.
Foreman base pay is increased 18 cents per hour in the new agreement.
The new agreement is an increase of $53,689 to $1,034,009 for the current school year and $34,985 next year for a total cost of $1,068,994 for the labor group.
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The agreement included a trial period from June through August allowing employees in this labor group to work four 10-hour shifts per week, subject to the following conditions:
- each craft team will collaborate with the district to develop a balanced schedule that ensures full coverage weekly.
- holidays occurring during this period will be calculated based on an 8-hour workday
- if an employee takes a full day’s leave (sick or vacation), 10 hours will be deducted from their accumulated leave
- for personal leave, the agreement provides two eight-hour personal days. If an employee uses personal leave, they will be charged one full personal day plus an additional two hours from the second personal day.
- both parties agree to meet in October 2026 to evaluate the effectiveness of the four 10-hour shift schedule and to decide whether to continue it. Both parties reserve the right to refuse the continuation of the 4-10 schedule without any negative consequences. In the event the parties decide not to continue the 4-10 schedule the original language shall govern.
