Schools

Board of Education, B-REA at Impasse in Contract Negotiations

The board of education hears a prepared statement about stalled negotiations.

Board of Education President Evan Lerner read the following statement at Tuesday’s meeting regarding the recent impasse between the board and the concerning contract negotiations:

Click here to read the B-REA's response to the Board of Education.

“As some of you may know, the leadership of the Bridgewater-Raritan Teachers Association has terminated the ongoing negotiations between it and the board, and has unilaterally declared that the sides are at ‘impasse.’ This means that instead of negotiating face-to-face, the B-REA leadership has opted to stop the negotiations process and commence mediation, a time-consuming process. We are disappointed that leadership has abandoned the negotiating table, but we have no control over the matter; the rules permit a party to unilaterally pull out of talks. As a result of their action, it is doubtful that the sides will reach any agreement in the foreseeable future. It also makes it more likely that a settlement when reached will start with the 2012-2013 school year, with the terms of the current 2011-2012 school year remaining as budgeted by the board, in which case there would be no change to the current year’s budget.

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"We have adhered to the concept that resolution is more easily achieved if the parties do not negotiate through the media. The board still believes that negotiations are usually best left to the bargaining table. In light of the union’s decision to drop out of that process, though, we think the community is entitled to understand the positions taken by the parties on the items under discussion.

"The negotiations with the B-REA have to date focused on three primary issues: raises, health benefits contributions and work day. It was our intention to address other smaller items after reaching agreement on these.

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"The board’s most recent proposal called for a 0 percent raise in the first year of the contract, a 1 percent raise in the second year of the contract and a 1 percent raise in the third year of the contract [2 percent aggregate over the term of the agreement].

"The B-REA’s most recent proposal to the board called for a 0 percent raise in the first year of the contract, a 3.81 percent raise in the second year of the contract and a 3.81 percent raise in the third year of the contract [7.62 percent over the term of the agreement].

"In the back-and-forth exchange of proposals, it appeared that the board and the B-REA were perhaps moving toward middle ground on this item. Progress toward further movement halted, however, when the B-REA refused to discuss the other two major items.

"Currently, state law requires teachers to contribute 1.5 percent of their salaries to their health insurance costs. Pursuant to landmark public employee benefits and pension legislation signed by the governor today, it is expected that teachers will soon be required to contribute the greater of (a) 1.5 percent of their salary, and (b) 3 percent to 35 percent of their health benefits costs [on a sliding scale].

"The board’s most recent proposal provided for the teachers to contribute the greater of (i) 1.5 percent of their salary, and 8 percent of their health benefits costs in the first year of the contract, (ii) the greater of 1.5 percent of salary and 13 percent of their health benefits costs in the second year of the contract and (iii) the greater of 1.5 percent of salary, and 18 percent of their health benefits costs during the third year of the contract. The board’s proposal also called for a switch to the state-sponsored health care insurance, which provides similar benefits at a lower cost to the district.

"The B-REA has rejected having its members make any contribution to health care costs above the 1.5 percent of salary already required by law. The B-REA’s proposal included its agreement to switch from the board’s current health care provider to the state-sponsored health care insurance.

"As a result of the B-REA leadership declaring an impasse, it seems likely that future contributions by teachers toward their health care will be as determined by the governor and the legislature rather than as negotiated by the board and the B-REA.

"Currently, most high school and middle school teachers spend only five of the nine periods of their day in direct instruction while the great majority of teachers at the lower levels spend the equivalent of six high school or middle school periods in direct instruction. The board’s proposals have requested that high school and middle school teachers transition to a day that includes six periods of direct instruction.

"A move to a six-period teaching day by high school and middle school teachers would correct this inequity. In addition to making teaching assignments in the district more comparable, a move to a six-period teaching day at the high school and middle school would save the district at least $3 million per year if all high school and middle school teachers had six periods of direct instruction. It would also give the administration more flexibility in scheduling. The board’s plan calls for paying additional monies to high school and middle school teachers as they work more, and provides for a gradual transition resulting from attrition so that no layoffs would result from the plan.

"The B-REA leadership has rejected this critical part of the board’s proposal.

"From the outset of negotiations, the board has been clear that for an agreement to be acceptable it must include an increased contribution by the teachers toward their health insurance costs as well as a transition to a sixth period of direct instruction for middle and high school teachers. Unfortunately, B-REA leadership has decided to walk away from the table rather than negotiate on these important issues.

"We note that at this point only the B-REA has declared an impasse. The board remains hopeful that it can resume negotiations with the B-REA and BRSA soon with a view toward reaching a mutually acceptable agreement in the not too distant future.”

Lerner also noted at the meeting that this impasse does not affect negotiations with the Bridgewater-Raritan Principals Association and the Bridgewater-Raritan Supervisors Association. Negotiations with those unions are still ongoing.


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