By:Nick Buglione
In their continuing effort to coax district officials to the bargaining table in between mediation sessions, scores of teachers packed the Board of Education meeting last Thursday dressed in black and wielding signs that read, Negotiate now.
They stood en masse as EMTA President John Gallagher addressed the board, promising that teachers would start protesting outside each of East Meadow-s nine schools every Friday in February before classes begin.
We-ve tried to take a different approach to negotiations, Gallagher said. They don-t seem interested in it. If theatrics is going to get them to pay attention, then we-ll give them theatrics.
The union and the school district were set to meet with the mediator for a fourth time on Feb. 1, after press time. The state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) pays for only the first three meetings. The union and district have agreed to split the bill for the fourth session, which will cost approximately $2,000.
Some 700 East Meadow School District teachers have been without a contract since their five-year deal expired on Aug. 31, 2004. Little progress has been made since a mediator was brought in to facilitate the collective-bargaining process in September, Gallagher said.
I feel we-re in the same spot, he said. Months pass in between mediation sessions, time that Gallagher thinks both sides should be negotiating. In their three meetings with the mediator, the union and district have only sat down face-to-face once, Gallagher said. I perceive it as a stall tactic, he said. It-s an attempt on them to control the process.
East Meadow School District Deputy Superintendent Leon Campo claims the union has inaccurately characterized the situation, and that progress has been made. The fact that both sides have decided to stick with mediation, rather than graduate to a more aggressive level of PERB-supervised negotiations, is a positive sign, he said. As long as both sides are willing to stick with it, I feel it will produce some positive traction, Campo said.
He also noted that the district hasn-t ruled out meeting with the union in between mediation sessions, and that the union-s decision to begin protesting outside schools is counterproductive. What we hope can be avoided is having energy go in that direction, Campo said. It doesn-t help us reach an agreement.
During previous contract negotiations, teachers have refused to advise clubs, take classes on field trips or show up for extra help. This time around, it-s been business as usual at the schools. They have been able to separate their goals for a new contract with the union from their education responsibilities to our children, Campo said. And I have to applaud them for that.
Concerned that the union might soon resort to more drastic tactics, parents are hoping an agreement is reached soon. Some have even put signs on their lawn stating Our teachers deserve a fair contract.
We have to get this settled, said Gail Widro, a Salisbury resident who spoke at the Board of Education meeting. It puts such a black mark on a community.
At the mediator-s recommendation, the union and district have been tight-lipped about the major issues holding up contract talks, but it-s clear that salary and benefits are at the forefront. Citing skyrocketing health-insurance premiums, the district has asked teachers to increase contributions to their plan.
Though district teachers have said that their starting salaries are comparable to those in other school districts, they-ve complained that it takes much longer for them to reach maximum salary. What-s more, the maximum salary is not comparable to that of other districts, they say.
In East Meadow a teacher must work 36 years to make $99,000 a year, while teachers in other districts max out over $100,000 in fewer years, Gallagher said. Some max out in 15 years, others in 20 years.
If mediation fails, both parties can enter into what-s known as the fact-finding stage. In that phase, both sides submit their arguments to another PERB-appointed representative on the specific issues stalling the collective-bargaining talks, such as wages, health insurance and retirement incentives.
After considering all the arguments, the representative offers recommended solutions on each issue.
Comments about this story? NBuglione@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
