The NFT is trying to spin our answers as incomplete and vague. Truth is our answers are extremely detailed and complete. Normally, the Board would sit face to face and review each question with union leaders. Since the state mediator has shown a preference to keep us separated the last few meetings, we reviewed details with him, item for item, then he took our answers and explanations to the NFT. A major part of our answers provided an index showing where we found the information, something we thought would be helpful. Taking all the documentation together, it makes sense. Without all the documents it does not, which is the root of the NFT’s spin.
The only question that we were vague on is what Council Rock’s CBA would cost Neshaminy Taxpayers. It would depend on when the contract was signed, what savings the district would realize from part year insurance change, and contributions to the healthcare plan. Another important issue is how many retirees would no longer be entitled to health care benefits going forward? I can assure you that the cost to Neshaminy Taxpayers will be far less that the $32 million the NFT is requesting in their current proposal. Why? Because Council Rock’s CBA does not include a retirement bonus of $27,500, free Rolls Royce healthcare now and in retirement, retro pay, etc.
Finally, the NFT had days to compile 44 questions; we had less that one to respond. If the NFT desires additional information, we will provide it. This offer is the closest we have come to resolving this impasse yet union leaders seem more concerned with banging the war drums. It sounds as though the NFT does not want this contract. Instead they appear to be choosing a path that paves the way for another strike while denying teachers a chance to vote on the Board’s offer.
Ritchie Webb
Neshaminy School Board President
Links to applicable documents:
Board responses to NFT 44 questions
Council Rock CBA
Powerpoint summary of Council Rock CBA highlights
NFT assumptions of Board offer
Arbitration items agreed to
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Board awaits NFT response
Meeting #52, September 13, 2012
The Board provided detailed, written answers with supporting documentation to the 44 questions given to them by the NFT at the last night's meeting.
The Board remains hopeful the rank and file will appreciate this latest offer of the Council Rock CBA as it provides our teachers with a generous contract, and its acceptance will spare our children from having to endure another possible strike.
The Board once again requested that union leaders allow their members to vote on the new proposal, to which there was no commitment. The Board now awaits the NFT's decision.
The next negotiation session is September 19, 2012.
The Board provided detailed, written answers with supporting documentation to the 44 questions given to them by the NFT at the last night's meeting.
The Board remains hopeful the rank and file will appreciate this latest offer of the Council Rock CBA as it provides our teachers with a generous contract, and its acceptance will spare our children from having to endure another possible strike.
The Board once again requested that union leaders allow their members to vote on the new proposal, to which there was no commitment. The Board now awaits the NFT's decision.
The next negotiation session is September 19, 2012.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
NFT seeks clarification on Board's offer
Meeting #51, September 12, 2012
The Board met with state mediators, John Cairns and William Gross, Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation for approximately two hours. Mr. Gross met separately with NFT and the Board; there was no face to face meeting. The NFT gave the Board via Mr. Gross a list of 44 questions regarding the Board's recent offer of Council Rock's contract.
The Board asked for time to review and answer the questions with the goal of completing by tomorrow night’s meeting. It is our hope that this will expedite the process, allowing the NFT to get this information to the rank and file for a vote and settlement.
The next meeting is tomorrow, September 13, 2012.
The Board met with state mediators, John Cairns and William Gross, Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation for approximately two hours. Mr. Gross met separately with NFT and the Board; there was no face to face meeting. The NFT gave the Board via Mr. Gross a list of 44 questions regarding the Board's recent offer of Council Rock's contract.
The Board asked for time to review and answer the questions with the goal of completing by tomorrow night’s meeting. It is our hope that this will expedite the process, allowing the NFT to get this information to the rank and file for a vote and settlement.
The next meeting is tomorrow, September 13, 2012.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Board makes "game-changing" offer to NFT
Meeting #50
Tonight’s meeting was attended by William Gross, Director of the PA Bureau of Mediation along with state mediator John Cairns. The parties did not meet face to face, instead remaining in separate rooms while the mediators shuttled back and forth.
The Board presented to the NFT via Mr. Gross a new alternative proposal, a game changing offer to the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers. The Board has suggested using the Council Rock Collective Bargaining Agreement in its entirety as a framework for resolving this 4 year long impasse.
Council Rock is similar in size and economic scope to Neshaminy, but Council rock has consistently outperformed our district in key measures of success such as PSSA scores. We believe that offering a parity contract with a district that has superior results show our desires to invest in our teachers.
But with this commitment comes the expectation that our certified staff will join with administration in eliminating the stigma of status quo that has plagued our district. There is no room for complacency if we are going to return Neshaminy to academic excellence.
This offer is by far the best possible deal we can give to the NFT. I hope union leaders and our certified staff will give it careful consideration because this is a one-time offer. If not accepted, it comes off the table and we go back to square one.
Click here to see the Council Rock CBA
Tonight’s meeting was attended by William Gross, Director of the PA Bureau of Mediation along with state mediator John Cairns. The parties did not meet face to face, instead remaining in separate rooms while the mediators shuttled back and forth.
The Board presented to the NFT via Mr. Gross a new alternative proposal, a game changing offer to the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers. The Board has suggested using the Council Rock Collective Bargaining Agreement in its entirety as a framework for resolving this 4 year long impasse.
Council Rock is similar in size and economic scope to Neshaminy, but Council rock has consistently outperformed our district in key measures of success such as PSSA scores. We believe that offering a parity contract with a district that has superior results show our desires to invest in our teachers.
But with this commitment comes the expectation that our certified staff will join with administration in eliminating the stigma of status quo that has plagued our district. There is no room for complacency if we are going to return Neshaminy to academic excellence.
This offer is by far the best possible deal we can give to the NFT. I hope union leaders and our certified staff will give it careful consideration because this is a one-time offer. If not accepted, it comes off the table and we go back to square one.
Click here to see the Council Rock CBA
Friday, August 31, 2012
Board President calls for referendum to void CBA
Neshaminy School Board President Ritchie Webb issued the following statement in response to last night’s NFT press release which included information about a confidential meeting with a Bucks County judge earlier in the day:
“When I read the latest NFT press release, quite frankly I was shocked.
NFT leadership has shown no respect for our community, our students, or its own membership, and now they have disrespected a Bucks County court. Judge Baldi requested a meeting yesterday with the attorneys in his chambers without board members or union reps present, just the attorneys from both sides.
It is my understanding that anything said in Judge’s chambers is confidential and privileged information, and certainly is not to appear in a press release several hours after the meeting.
Once again the NFT has shot itself in the foot, and any assistance Judge Baldi could have given to these negotiations has been severely compromised, in our opinion, as a direct result of the NFT releasing these details.
NFT attorney Tom Jennings showed a total lack of discretion and respect for the court by publishing a private conversation occurring in Judge Baldi’s chambers.
This serves as a perfect example of what is wrong in Neshaminy. We have a rogue union who, in our estimation, is led by a rogue attorney, and an NFT president who shows no respect and will do and say anything, including using Judge Baldi to get what they want.
The answer to Neshaminy’s problems does not rest with a Bucks County Judge but rather in Harrisburg.
We are getting very close to an unsolvable impasse and I believe that a public referendum that would allow the taxpayers of Neshaminy to void the current contract is the only solution.
Out of respect for Judge Baldi and his court, I will not comment on what I was told had occurred in his chambers. I do want to emphasize that William Gross, the Director of Bureau of Mediation for our State, has attended our negotiation sessions previously and is welcomed by the Board to attend in the future.”
“When I read the latest NFT press release, quite frankly I was shocked.
NFT leadership has shown no respect for our community, our students, or its own membership, and now they have disrespected a Bucks County court. Judge Baldi requested a meeting yesterday with the attorneys in his chambers without board members or union reps present, just the attorneys from both sides.
It is my understanding that anything said in Judge’s chambers is confidential and privileged information, and certainly is not to appear in a press release several hours after the meeting.
Once again the NFT has shot itself in the foot, and any assistance Judge Baldi could have given to these negotiations has been severely compromised, in our opinion, as a direct result of the NFT releasing these details.
NFT attorney Tom Jennings showed a total lack of discretion and respect for the court by publishing a private conversation occurring in Judge Baldi’s chambers.
This serves as a perfect example of what is wrong in Neshaminy. We have a rogue union who, in our estimation, is led by a rogue attorney, and an NFT president who shows no respect and will do and say anything, including using Judge Baldi to get what they want.
The answer to Neshaminy’s problems does not rest with a Bucks County Judge but rather in Harrisburg.
We are getting very close to an unsolvable impasse and I believe that a public referendum that would allow the taxpayers of Neshaminy to void the current contract is the only solution.
Out of respect for Judge Baldi and his court, I will not comment on what I was told had occurred in his chambers. I do want to emphasize that William Gross, the Director of Bureau of Mediation for our State, has attended our negotiation sessions previously and is welcomed by the Board to attend in the future.”
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Board to NFT: 15% H/C contributions will allow for salary and step increases
Negotiation Meeting #49, August 30, 2012
The Board incorporated the twelve items tentatively agreed to on August 29th into an updated proposal, a copy of which will be placed on the district's negotiations website in a few days.
The Board once again asked the NFT, through the mediator, to contribute fifteen percent towards their healthcare premium. This is the same amount that our custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, etc., pay towards healthcare. A fifteen percent healthcare premium contribution allows the district to offer both salary and step "educations credits" in the amount of $3.2 million, which the Board would be willing to do.
We hope the NFT leadership will consider the welfare of their members and work with the Board on this request.
The two parties never met face to face, but through the mediator.
The next meeting is September 06, 2012 at 6:00 pm.
The Board incorporated the twelve items tentatively agreed to on August 29th into an updated proposal, a copy of which will be placed on the district's negotiations website in a few days.
The Board once again asked the NFT, through the mediator, to contribute fifteen percent towards their healthcare premium. This is the same amount that our custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, etc., pay towards healthcare. A fifteen percent healthcare premium contribution allows the district to offer both salary and step "educations credits" in the amount of $3.2 million, which the Board would be willing to do.
We hope the NFT leadership will consider the welfare of their members and work with the Board on this request.
The two parties never met face to face, but through the mediator.
The next meeting is September 06, 2012 at 6:00 pm.
Board President disappointed by Union Leader’s “waste of time” comment
Reacting to last night’s NFT press release in which Union President Louise Boyd referred to yesterday’s negotiations as a “waste of the NFT's time,” Ritchie Webb issued this brief statement:
“Considering that more was accomplished last night than in the previous four years, I believe Ms. Boyd has done a great disservice to our negotiations by derailing some important progress both sides achieved.
The twelve items agreed to from the Arbitrator’s award included some significant concessions by the Board, and for the very first time since talks began in 2008, we have a partial, tentative agreement over some key issues.
After these items were agreed to, the Board then decided to offer a new Rx proposal that was even more generous than what the NFT had originally requested. This was followed by the NFT modifying its offer for employee health care contributions.
Admittedly these are baby steps in what will be a long journey to a resolution, but I am baffled why Ms. Boyd would downplay what happened. Are union leaders so intent on building the case for a strike that they won’t acknowledge positive developments to their own rank and file?
Given Ms. Boyd’s inappropriate behavior at Tuesday’s public board meeting, and now her refusal to acknowledge last night’s accomplishments, I have to wonder why she even bothers showing up for negotiations.
For the sake of our students, parents and taxpayers, I hope union officials show up for tonight’s meeting with a more positive, can-do approach.”
“Considering that more was accomplished last night than in the previous four years, I believe Ms. Boyd has done a great disservice to our negotiations by derailing some important progress both sides achieved.
The twelve items agreed to from the Arbitrator’s award included some significant concessions by the Board, and for the very first time since talks began in 2008, we have a partial, tentative agreement over some key issues.
After these items were agreed to, the Board then decided to offer a new Rx proposal that was even more generous than what the NFT had originally requested. This was followed by the NFT modifying its offer for employee health care contributions.
Admittedly these are baby steps in what will be a long journey to a resolution, but I am baffled why Ms. Boyd would downplay what happened. Are union leaders so intent on building the case for a strike that they won’t acknowledge positive developments to their own rank and file?
Given Ms. Boyd’s inappropriate behavior at Tuesday’s public board meeting, and now her refusal to acknowledge last night’s accomplishments, I have to wonder why she even bothers showing up for negotiations.
For the sake of our students, parents and taxpayers, I hope union officials show up for tonight’s meeting with a more positive, can-do approach.”
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