Negotiations Update - July 31, 2008

Mediation Update ...             More Same Old Same Old             After two mediation sessions with State appointed mediator James Mastriani, the District negotiating team and the Association remain as far apart as we were when the negotiations impasse was declared.             While the meetings have been congenial, no progress whatsoever has been made.  At the end of the day on July 26, the date of the second session, there were no tentative agreements on anything in either organizations proposal.  The murderous District contract proposal includes :   x     no salary increase, x     partial payment for health benefits costs, x     extended year and day proposals, x     elimination of Association officer positions x     elimination of vital contractual rights language             Additionally, the District has threatened to submit yet another “Scope of Negotiations” petition to the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) claiming matters that they previously negotiated are “illegal subjects of negotiations” that should not be included in the contract.  These actions are a clear sign of bad faith bargaining on the part of the District management and bring into question whether or not their “word” on any proposal or agreement can be trusted.           The parties have agreed to review their respective proposals before our next mediation session on August 26.            It is clear that the proposals established by the Glascoe/Rush/Hodges administration have been written with the intent of “breaking” the Association.  They believe that the P.E.A. membership’s support for the Association has been substantially weakened by the retirements and resignations of senior staff members who stood behind the Association in negotiation after negotiation session, job action after job action, and strike after strike.  They believe that staff will “cave in” to their demands.           Your Negotiations Team does not for one second believe this to be the case.  We appreciate your support, and know that standing strong and together we will come out of these negotiations with a contract that our membership can be proud of.