Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for February 25, 2002 WHEN DOES IT END? WHAT IF...

As I made the rounds last week for the merger election, I received several inquiries concerning the status of negotiations. Although you have received timely updates in previous editions of CAT Tracks, maybe a special edition concerning general procedures is in order…

WHEN DOES IT END?

Many of you have expressed your frustration that WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A CONTRACT…Welcome to the club! This process started last May with the official "demand to bargain" letter. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond the Association's control…an "old board" not wanting to make commitments, the suspension of the superintendent (which brought a halt to scheduled negotiations), the changing of the board, and the time lag while the "new board" got up to speed…it was not until mid-December, that REAL negotiations began!

The CAT has been very proactive in "moving the process"…the latest measure being the suggestion of limiting negotiations to a "Top Ten" by both sides…eliminating numerous language items in order to focus on the most pressing concerns.

No one is more frustrated than the members of the CAT bargaining team. We have sat patiently at the table (through 16 sessions) explaining and re-explaining YOUR concerns…the concerns that you expressed on the membership survey sheets last Spring.

BUT…you cannot force someone to agree. You must be patient…you must be persistent. You simply have to keep stressing the importance and the reasonableness of the issue. To a great degree, it is a "wearing down process"…demonstrating that this IS important and that it will not go away.

Yes…we could make demands…which they would refuse…a confrontation that would produce impasse. This stops negotiations, rather than speeding it up.

Some of you have asked about a mediator…the CAT made that suggestion two weeks ago. The Board Team wanted to discuss it with the full Board. They have yet to respond. We will revisit that issue tonight. (The outside group that came to Cairo in January offered a "facilitator"…but that has yet to happen.) HOWEVER…a mediator does NOT necessarily speed up the process. The mediator's sole function is to get the parties to talk…which we have been doing for the past two months. But, mediation IS part of the legal process that must be followed prior to a work stoppage. We will meet that commitment.

WHAT IF...

And speaking of work stoppage…the Board Team has been told…on several occasions…that WE MUST HAVE A CONTRACT THIS YEAR. They did NOT like to hear the "S" word. They brought their objection to the use of that word to the "outsiders" at our January meeting. The CAT bargaining team did NOT apologize for what is a LEGAL OPTION. We stressed that such talk was NOT a threat…that it was simply to remind an administration and Board (that has injected repeated delays into the process) of the immediacy of our concern.

Many of you have asked…What if there is a strike? That is a question that the Association team has yet to consider. The Association has a legal commitment to negotiate…to try to resolve outstanding issues in good faith. We have approached and will continue to approach this process with an open mind. We are NOT "thinking strike". As long as the Board team makes movement it is NOT necessary…we will reach a tentative agreement to bring to you for ratification.

YOUR position NOW should be that you support your bargaining team…"They speak for me."

If the Board team stops negotiating…and impasse is reached…and the mediator says that the situation is hopeless…THAT is when the Association will call a meeting of the entire membership and discuss "What if…" YOU will decide...by majority vote...our future course of action. PRIOR to such a vote, all issues will be discussed in detail so that an informed decision can be made. At that time, you should express your views...listen to the views of others...respectfully...and vote your mind. Our only expectation is that ALL will support the wishes of the majority.

We are currently making progress because the CAT membership has stood strong in the past. We have taken reasonable positions… The Board of Education does NOT "blow us off" as they do others because we HAVE stood up for what we believe in…and through unity have prevailed. It is oh so true…United We Stand…Divided We Fall.

Thank you for your continuing support!

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