Meeting #58 Update
The parties met face to face under the Supervision of William Gross, Chief Mediator for the PA Bureau of Mediation.
The Board rejected the NFT counter offer to their Council Rock proposal. Mr Webb stated that the cost would be more than the Council Rock contract, and the language would hamper the ability of the administration to manage effectively.
The Board presented the NFT a 43 page counter proposal and reserved the right to supplement the proposal with additional concerns at our next negotiation session on Monday, October 29, 2012.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Board releases NFT counter proposal
Board President Ritchie Webb issued the following statement in reaction to the NFT’s offer:
“While the Board will withhold its official response until this Wednesday’s negotiation session, I think it’s important to comment on the current situation.
When the Board proposed the Council Rock solution to the teachers’ union, we knew it would be a game changing idea because it allowed teachers to recover most of the compensation levels (without retro pay) missed over the past 4 years. This was an expensive concession on the part of the Board but one we felt was necessary to ending this impasse. In exchange for this concession, the District would still see net savings in areas such as health care, salary administration, and retirement perks/benefits.
Under the circumstances, we saw this as a true win-win opportunity.
In its counter proposal, the NFT did acknowledge their willingness to make several significant concessions to the salary matrix, retirement perks/benefits, and health care. So in this sense, this is the closest the two sides have come since the last agreement expired. However, that is not to say that we are on the verge of a settlement.
There are some issues in the NFT counter proposal that have significant financial impact, potentially adding millions of dollars to our annual operating budget. These issues by themselves would render the NFT’s offer as unaffordable to the District. Any reports that the NFT proposal is “cost neutral” to the Board’s Council Rock offer are inaccurate and misleading.
Beyond the finances, there are elements of the NFT proposal with respect to day-to-day operations that further the distance between our two sides. The union kept what they liked about the CR contract and they added in what they wanted to protect from the expired Neshaminy CBA. This best-of-both-worlds strategy actually does more to stifle Administration than it does to recognize the decision-making authority it should have.
I am encouraged by the dialogue that has occurred since the Board offered the Council Rock solution, however, the parties have not yet made sufficient progress for the NFT to begin thinking that they are close to a settlement. The Board will continue to help foster understanding of this District’s financial and educational situation as we strive to settle on a contract that is respectful to our teachers, empowering to our District, and affordable to our tax payers.”
“While the Board will withhold its official response until this Wednesday’s negotiation session, I think it’s important to comment on the current situation.
When the Board proposed the Council Rock solution to the teachers’ union, we knew it would be a game changing idea because it allowed teachers to recover most of the compensation levels (without retro pay) missed over the past 4 years. This was an expensive concession on the part of the Board but one we felt was necessary to ending this impasse. In exchange for this concession, the District would still see net savings in areas such as health care, salary administration, and retirement perks/benefits.
Under the circumstances, we saw this as a true win-win opportunity.
In its counter proposal, the NFT did acknowledge their willingness to make several significant concessions to the salary matrix, retirement perks/benefits, and health care. So in this sense, this is the closest the two sides have come since the last agreement expired. However, that is not to say that we are on the verge of a settlement.
There are some issues in the NFT counter proposal that have significant financial impact, potentially adding millions of dollars to our annual operating budget. These issues by themselves would render the NFT’s offer as unaffordable to the District. Any reports that the NFT proposal is “cost neutral” to the Board’s Council Rock offer are inaccurate and misleading.
Beyond the finances, there are elements of the NFT proposal with respect to day-to-day operations that further the distance between our two sides. The union kept what they liked about the CR contract and they added in what they wanted to protect from the expired Neshaminy CBA. This best-of-both-worlds strategy actually does more to stifle Administration than it does to recognize the decision-making authority it should have.
I am encouraged by the dialogue that has occurred since the Board offered the Council Rock solution, however, the parties have not yet made sufficient progress for the NFT to begin thinking that they are close to a settlement. The Board will continue to help foster understanding of this District’s financial and educational situation as we strive to settle on a contract that is respectful to our teachers, empowering to our District, and affordable to our tax payers.”
Thursday, October 11, 2012
NFT counter offer is "unacceptable"
Negotiation Session #57
Tonight the Board met face to face with the NFT Negotiating Team for approximately half an hour. It is apparent that the NFT has rejected the Boards' proposal based on Council Rock's recently signed contract.
However, the NFT's new proposal takes the Council Rock salaries, but added costs and language from their current 2002/2008 Neshaminy contract, making the proposal unacceptable.
While the Board will conduct a thorough analysis of the cost and educational impact of this offer before issuing an official response, let me express my disappointment that union leaders never gave its members an opportunity to vote on the Boards, Council Rock contract proposal offer as is. Instead of considering a good offer in tough, economic times, the union has taken the all too familiar path of asking for more than we can give.
The next scheduled meeting is October 24th. The October 15th, meeting was cancelled by William Gross, Director of PA Bureau of Mediation.
Tonight the Board met face to face with the NFT Negotiating Team for approximately half an hour. It is apparent that the NFT has rejected the Boards' proposal based on Council Rock's recently signed contract.
However, the NFT's new proposal takes the Council Rock salaries, but added costs and language from their current 2002/2008 Neshaminy contract, making the proposal unacceptable.
While the Board will conduct a thorough analysis of the cost and educational impact of this offer before issuing an official response, let me express my disappointment that union leaders never gave its members an opportunity to vote on the Boards, Council Rock contract proposal offer as is. Instead of considering a good offer in tough, economic times, the union has taken the all too familiar path of asking for more than we can give.
The next scheduled meeting is October 24th. The October 15th, meeting was cancelled by William Gross, Director of PA Bureau of Mediation.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
NFT response is forthcoming
Meeting #56 Update
The negotiation teams for the Neshaminy School District and the NFT met briefly tonight for a face-to-face discussion.
The NFT communicated that they are working to develop a comprehensive response to the board's Council Rock proposal.
The next scheduled bargaining session is this Thursday, October 4th.
The negotiation teams for the Neshaminy School District and the NFT met briefly tonight for a face-to-face discussion.
The NFT communicated that they are working to develop a comprehensive response to the board's Council Rock proposal.
The next scheduled bargaining session is this Thursday, October 4th.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
