Both the Express Times (read the article here) and the Morning Call (read the article here) report that the NAEA will vote on the fact finder report.
Courtney Lomax of the Express-Times reports the date of the vote as December 6.
As noted on this site previously, the NASD approved the fact finder report 7-0 on Monday. In comments posted there was concern that the quick approval by the NASD was proof that the Fact Finder Report favored the NASD position. It also must be considered that each party has 10 days to vote and the NASD does not meet again until December 18 (I believe), so it either had to vote or hold a special session.
At this point in time, one would think it would be reasonably easy to find the points of difference and see what was being recommended and whether or not it was acceptable.
Lomax's article supports this as Board President Don Keller was quoted as saying, "the report was easy to understand and broken down by each topic."
Lomax also reported that Superintendent Lesky noted the report would be posted on the NASD web site after the ten day period is over.
Next week we'll all know. It is now in the NAEA's hands. They can accept the report and the contract issue will be behind us, or they can decline it, which means its back to negotiations. Given the difficulties the two parties have had previously, if the report is declined, you'd have to think a strike will be announced shortly thereafter.
5 comments:
Just an FYI -- the next board meeting is Monday the 4th. They will have the board re-organization then.
Well, I think this tells us that the board was not racing to meet the deadline because of not wanting to have a special session.
With the quick turn around on their part, and the unanimous vote to accept the findings, one can now only assume that it is closer to their offer than the NAEA demands (which shouldn't be a stretch since they never seemed to make them available ;) ). It is also interesting that the NAEA is waiting until almost the end of the review period to vote on it.
Now that we have active gambling in PA, I wonder if anyone is offering odds on whether the NAEA will strike or not?
The other consideration about the Board's swift approval could be that like us, they want it over and accepting a neutral third party recommendation was a face saving out.
I mentioned on another comment that the pessimist in me thinks they will strike because they have nothing to lose.
If its not close enough to the NAEA, and they vote it down, do they take a chance at binding arbitration?
It won't go lower than the NASD offer, and if the fact finder is close to the NASD, then why not strike and go for it?
That of course is strictly considering the money aspect, there is also the community reaction to going on strike - I don't think it will be pleasant.
You can't get everything and there must be some compromise. So far the NAEA hasn't said what they want, only that they don't like what has been offered. If they reject the proposal of a neutral third party, and the NASD said it will post the proposal after the 10 day period, it could make the NAEA appear very greedy.
Also consider that with year end people in the community will find out what they will be getting next year (1, 2, 3%?) as a raise and what new contributions will be for medical. If people compare it to what the teachers are rejecting it will make people angry and teachers appear very greedy - bad combination.
In regards to the last post comments:
Also consider that with year end people in the community will find out what they will be getting next year (1, 2, 3%?) as a raise and what new contributions will be for medical. If people compare it to what the teachers are rejecting it will make people angry and teachers appear very greedy - bad combination.
Let it be know that there are plenty who are already mad!! The public has asked repeatedly for the NAEA to state their position and what they want, and they continue to not provide it.
Who do these teachers think they are? What are they hiding? Not that I expect an answer, many have been asking to have these questions answered since the summer and no response.
I've already been informed that my medical contribution is going up, but haven't heard if my pay will. There is no guarantee that it will. Like many people I find out at year end.
My point was that in the summer I'm not thinking much about what raise I will get (or how much more I'll get hit for benefits), but at the end of the year it is very much on my mind, and if I don't get much and then see the teachers reject an offer twice or more what I'm getting, I think it becomes very personal (even more than before).
I didn't mean to infer that everyone was okay with what was happening, I only meant that given this I think many more people will be upset than they would have been if the a strike took place at the start of school.
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