Last night the Board and NFT spoke for more than six (6) hours, mostly in face-to-face talks. This was perhaps the most productive negotiation session ever.
As discussions concluded, there were about a half dozen issues that the two sides remained apart on, including equal say and past practice. Towards the end of the meeting the Board confirmed its final offer, which is modeled after the Council Rock CBA.
As a part of this offer, fulltime teachers at the lower end of the salary matrix (Bachelors plus 12 credits) will receive no less than a $6,121 (14.38%) increase over the next year, while most max level teachers will see an $8,402 (8.76%) boost in their base pay.
Some teachers in the middle of the salary matrix will earn a significantly higher pay hike. There are more than 75 teachers who will receive an increase greater than $20,000.
The average increase for all teachers for the next 12 months will be 17.81%.
Under the current Neshaminy CBA, the maximum base salary is $95,923. Upon ratification of the “Council Rock” proposal, the new maximum base salary will jump to $104,325, and it will increase to $107,469 by the end of the 3-year contract.
Before departing last night, state mediator William Gross informed the Board that the NFT would bring the final offer before the rank and file teachers for a vote.
If the offer is approved by NFT membership, the Board will release the details of its proposal to the public for review and comment. The Board will then vote on the proposal at a public meeting.
If the offer is not approved by NFT membership, the Board will withdraw the “Council Rock” proposal.
Board President Ritchie Webb said, “The fate of these negotiations now rests solely with the NFT. The decision to end this impasse is in their hands. The Board has given the teachers a fair and generous contract proposal, and it all comes down to how union leaders present the offer to the rank and file.”
No further talks between the two sides are scheduled at this point.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Board Reviews NFT's Proposal Issues
Neshaminy Contract Negotiations Update
December 12, 2012
Tonight, for the 63rd time, the Board met with the NFT.
We discussed and reviewed the current 69 NFT issues in their most current revised format given to the Board at 10 pm last night (Tuesday) via email from the NFT President.
The parties met face-to-face for 1 hour, 10 minutes. Unfortunately Mr Gross, the Director of The Bureau of Mediation, was not in attendance and requested via phone that the parties reconvene next Tuesday, December 18th, when he will be in attendance for the 64th session.
December 12, 2012
Tonight, for the 63rd time, the Board met with the NFT.
We discussed and reviewed the current 69 NFT issues in their most current revised format given to the Board at 10 pm last night (Tuesday) via email from the NFT President.
The parties met face-to-face for 1 hour, 10 minutes. Unfortunately Mr Gross, the Director of The Bureau of Mediation, was not in attendance and requested via phone that the parties reconvene next Tuesday, December 18th, when he will be in attendance for the 64th session.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Board addresses NFT issues including equal say, past practice
Tonight the board and the NFT met across the table for approximately an hour. The discussion centered around 69 open items, with equal say and past practice being among those items that the NFT presented to the board on November 26,2012. The board provided a detailed written response to all 69 items.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 12, 2012.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 12, 2012.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Progress made but key obstacles remain
Last night’s negotiations between the School Board and Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) featured positive dialogue and important strides toward resolution of the 5-year contract impasse. However, Board President Ritchie Webb cautioned that two important issues remain at large.
“The NFT proposal for special education class size adds $2 million to our annual operating budget. Not only is that unaffordable, we also believe that the NFT plan violates State guidelines thus making it an unviable program.”
“The other area of significant difference involves contract language, specifically on such matters as equal say, status quo, and past practices. The Board remains committed to creating an environment that respects the work and professionalism of our teachers without hamstringing our administrators with prohibitive and counterproductive contract language.”
Mr. Webb elaborated on the importance of contract language by saying, “If our principals are to be held accountable for results, then there can be no doubt as to who holds ultimate decision-making authority within a school building. The Board will never agree to contract language that in any way hinders the authority of our administrators.”
The next scheduled meeting is Monday, November 26, 2012. Between now and then, the NFT is expected to review the Board’s objection to their special education plan, as well as reconsider their insistence of maintaining contract language that supports equal voice, status quo, and past practices.
“The NFT proposal for special education class size adds $2 million to our annual operating budget. Not only is that unaffordable, we also believe that the NFT plan violates State guidelines thus making it an unviable program.”
“The other area of significant difference involves contract language, specifically on such matters as equal say, status quo, and past practices. The Board remains committed to creating an environment that respects the work and professionalism of our teachers without hamstringing our administrators with prohibitive and counterproductive contract language.”
Mr. Webb elaborated on the importance of contract language by saying, “If our principals are to be held accountable for results, then there can be no doubt as to who holds ultimate decision-making authority within a school building. The Board will never agree to contract language that in any way hinders the authority of our administrators.”
The next scheduled meeting is Monday, November 26, 2012. Between now and then, the NFT is expected to review the Board’s objection to their special education plan, as well as reconsider their insistence of maintaining contract language that supports equal voice, status quo, and past practices.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Board rejects NFT counter; offers updated proposal
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.
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.
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.
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