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C-M teachers: No new contract
Joe Grosso, the union's lead negotiator, said 91 percent voted against the proposal, citing concerns about class size, involuntary transfers and the salary schedule.
"The proposed salary structure of the fact-finder unevenly distributes salaries over the 18-step schedule," Grosso said in a news release. "Teachers feel that a more even distribution of the same proposed schedule would have been more favorable."
The proposal calls for first-year teachers with a bachelor's degree to have a salary of $37,393 in 2009-10, up from $35,800 in 2008-09. It calls for teachers with a master's degree plus 30 hours of credits to make $77,782 in 2009-10, up from $76,182 in the 2008-09 school year. By the 2011-12 school year, the starting salary would be $41,729 and the maximum salary would be $80,082.
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"My recommendations are below those proposed by the association but above those proposed by the board," fact-finder Matthew M. Franckiewicz wrote in the report.
He also recommended increasing health insurance premiums to $15 per month for individuals and $30 per month for all others. Currently, teachers pay $12.50 per month for individual and $25 per month for all others.
Canon-McMillan School Board approved the proposal by a 5-4 vote Thursday. By law, they couldn't comment on the proposal by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board-appointed fact-finder until after the union vote.
Because the union voted no, both sides will have to vote again within five to 10 days. If one side votes no again, they will return to the bargaining table.
School board members voting for the report were Robert Malwitz, Debbie Link, Adam Galambos, Joseph Zupanic and Jay Romano.
Those voting against the report were Laura Grossman, Manuel Pihakis, Kathy Smith and Nick Cianelli. Pihakis said he voted against it because he thought new members elected this week should have a chance to review the contract.
Malwitz said that on balance, he thought it was a "fair enough deal." He said he didn't want to spend a lot of time to fine-tune something that he thinks won't be very different in the end than this proposal.
He anticipates that at least one side will vote no on the proposal, which means newly elected school board members will have to finalize a new contract.
Malwitz said he plans to re-evaluate his vote and see what the community has to say now that the report is public.
"It's way too early to make that call," he said about what his next vote will be.
Smith said she voted against the proposal because of the economic climate in the district. She said she knows quite a few people who have had wage freezes, reduction in hours, 401k losses and increases in health-care costs.
"None of that was reflected in the fact-finder's report," she said, adding that the salary increases are above inflation and the health-care premium increases are minimal.
She said she was surprised at the union vote.
"I'm surprised they didn't see it as a viable contract," Smith said.
This week's votes came two months after the teachers union authorized its bargaining team to take whatever action it needed to motivate progress in the contract.
Canon-McMillan is one of six Washington and Greene County districts where teachers are working without a contract. The others are Washington, McGuffey, Charleroi, West Greene and Southeastern Greene.
Read the fact-finder's report and the current contract at www.observer-reporter.com/OR/sourcedoc/.
Join the Observer-Reporter's conversation about education at our blog at http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/behinddesk/.
WOW : 11/7/2009
Do you think they can handle an additional $5 on family health care coverage? $30 a month..........What do most people pay? In the contract proposed......they want an early retirement incentive.......Getting their health care paid for till they are 65. I think they can afford to pay their own health care at the yearly pension that they will recieve a year when they retire. If they feel they cant, then don't retire at 55, work like everyone else does, till 65.
Teacher Salaries : 11/7/2009
I think this is insane. We have not had a raise at our jobs in three years and our health insurance contribution has gone up twice. They pay alot less then we do in our house hole for insurance So we are making less now than we did three years ago. Our employer says be happy we have a job. We just bought a home in Canon Mac district in Feb. I can't imagine our taxes going up again. I think they should be told the same thing. Does anyone not realize the economy we are in? We taxpayers pay for that increase, but if we are not making more money how can we pay for them to make more money? Its not like we get a big tax break here! I just don't get it.
Contract : 11/7/2009
Typical PSEA. Get a generous contract which the Board votes to accept and they vote no. I hope the Board learns it lesson. Get the burn barrels out.
Teacher Salary Contract : 11/9/2009
I feel that the teachers ought to take a step back and realize that everyone in our school district is suffering from this economy and stop being greedy! I haven't had a raise in 10 years and I have more health insurance taken out every year and I work 12 months out of the year!
just a note : 11/9/2009
not commenting on contract at all but to the Concerned parent if you have not had a raise in ten years i think it may be time to find a new job..and before you say its impossible to find a job, its not impossible.. and pennsylvania is currently below the nation average in unemployment of 8.8 which is outrageous but still lower then some..
Really : 11/9/2009
Come on people. These adults spend over 8 hours a day every day with your children, not just your one or two but 30 in every class. If you were doing that you would be exhausted and ready to send them to someone else within the hour. These brave souls deserve raises like everyone else. So they have a union and can negotiate don't be bitter. I can't negotiate for my benefits or pay either but I wish I had a union so I could. If teachers sit around and do nothing why are there so many students going to college? If you can do it better I say go for it. Ridiculous.
re:really : 11/10/2009
They chose their profession. Having an average of 18 to 30 kids in a classroom is how it is and always has been. What do you think they should have? 10 students per class? Yes, alot go to college, but they should send a survey out to former students who finish their first year of college, and ask them, "how well were you prepared?" They do not even know how to write a research paper properly. If you have ever had students in the district, and this could probably go for alot of districts, ask them questions. Instead of these parents being so happy that their darlings are making "A's", they should be questioning what is going on in some of these classrooms. I could right a book from my kids and their friends. Some, do nothing!! They are glorified babysitters making a very hefty hourly wage to babysit. Teachers going out of the room during tests, letting kids cheat on tests-they never walk around the room to see what is going on. Kids texting all of the classroom period, especially girls when they can hide the phone while they have their purse on their lap. Teachers talking to their kids at college on their cell phones in the room, carry on conversations, everyday in the classroom, that have NOTHING to do with the class. Basically, NOT TEACHING!! After three years that a teacher has been there, they don't want to deal with a non performing teacher. I want to see the EXCELLENT teachers make more. They know who they are, and they know the ones that do nothing because the kids talk and tell other teachers. Then the teachers have to be informed when they are going to be observed and the students are all goody two shoes and the teacher has their lesson plans out, it is a joke. Etc Etc.....
RE: re:really : 11/11/2009
Yes, they chose their profession. SO DID EVERYONE ELSE! If others chose a profession where they do not receive a raise, do not have a union to negotiate their contract, etc., the blame can be placed on themselves for choosing that profession. Don't rally against teachers because of their profession choice or because you are bitter against what you do for a living. This goes for all posters on this article. I pay taxes too, but I still understand that teachers have a tough job and they chose their profession and worked hard to get there and continue to work hard every day. You want what they have? Go get your teaching certification and apply for a teaching job. The sad thing is, most of you could not make it there...
Editorial : 11/12/2009
Today November 12, 2009's editorial tells it all !!!
