CAT Tracks for April 18, 2002 AS UGLY AS IT GETS!

Bargaining teams for the CAT and the Board met last night for five hours. For the second meeting in a row, the Board team refused to "move" - refused to improve their offer. AND...the Board team stated that this was their "LAST, BEST AND FINAL OFFER". When the CAT team suggested another meeting to "brainstorm" possible solutions, the Board team indicated that they were NOT interested. (They had openly resisted two earlier caucuses suggested by the federal mediator...seemed very "put upon" that they had to stay and talk..."What's there to talk about?")

Steve Kohn once again went through their numbers, indicating that they had ample room in their budget to offer teachers a decent settlement AND have money left over for other groups or "pet projects". The Board team did not want to hear it...got VERY CONDESCENDING. This "attitude" sparked some heated responses from our side which were returned in kind. A couple of cooling off periods called by the mediator failed to produce progress.

The mediator and members of the CAT bargaining team made repeated efforts to get the Board team to open a dialogue, but they would not budge. "We don't have any money...that's it." In response, Steve asked them to show him where his numbers were wrong...they would not/could not. Draw your own conclusions!

We asked the Board team how they could expect us to go back to our members and ask them to accept less money than they made last year AND start paying $130 a month for their health insurance. The Board team was not impressed..."That's all there is."

We asked them how we could be expected to advise our members to accept such an offer...$112,000 for 71 employees...when the Board team admitted that they were going to move a principal to the Central Office to fill what was previously a part-time job...an increase of at least $40,000 for one administrative position? Their response..."There used to be 4 administrators in the Central Office to do what one-and-a-half are now doing." Well, EXCUUUUSE ME! What about the 10 teachers and 14 teachers' assistants that were RIFed last month to fund this latest escapade?! AS USUAL...THEY FIND MONEY...EASILY...TO DO THE THINGS THEY WANT TO DO. BUT...MONEY FOR US PEONS? "LET THEM EAT...."

So...the Board has placed the ball squarely in our court. They want you to vote on their package...take it or leave it. To that end, we will hold a VERY IMPORTANT MEETING on Monday. Plan to be there...voice your opinion...and vote! Please...no proxies.