CAT Tracks for April 23, 2002 TEACHERS FORCED TO STRIKE!

NOT EVEN CLOSE

Following a 3-hour negotiations session yesterday afternoon, the membership of the Cairo Association of Teachers met at Cairo High School and listened as their bargaining team brought them up-to-date. Unfortunately, it was NOT news they wanted to hear...namely, that the Board was not making significant movement following their off-again/on-again posture of the past week.

The CAT bargaining team pressured the Board team to make a commitment of funds in anticipation of a third-party reviewing the District's financial situation; as in, what portion of the surplus would you put on the table to reach a settlement with the teachers? After a lengthy caucus, the Board team returned with the following proposal: "If the actual revenues minus any borrowed money to satisfy current obligations exceeds expenditures by $450,000 or more the committee would be willing to move 10% (they did make that "minimally" 10%) on its offer of $112,000"...a total of $11,200...making their total package $123,200. When the CAT team indicated that they felt that this was an insult, the Board team responded with bewilderment..."Why is that insulting...it's almost half of the $450,000!"

This additional "song and dance" did not sit well with an audience consisting of RIFed teachers, friends of RIFed teachers, and ALL teachers who were told last Thursday...the day after the last negotiations session...that they "probably" would not get paid on April 30th.

When the Board's offer was put up for a vote, it was overwhelmingly REJECTED.

The assembled teachers then listened as the bargaining team and IEA UniServ Director Jim Tammen explained possible scenarios and options. Various questions were asked and answered. Following the discussion, the teachers were asked to vote on whether to continue negotiations or to strike. AGAIN...the teachers voted overwhelmingly to STRIKE.

The final question was whether the strike should occur sooner or later...as in this year or to not open school next year. A comment from the audience was "You told them that we would not work all of this year without a contract." The implication was clear..."Let's keep our word!" While the team discussed the wording of the motion, teachers gave a clear indication that they were tired of talk and wanted action. Without prompting, they began writing their own motions. The sentiment, again, was overwhelming! "Let's strike...and let's do it now!"

In order to allow time for notification of the parents and to make final strike preparations, the bagaining team decided that the strike will begin on Thursday, April 25th, barring substantial movement by the Board of Education.

Following the meeting, the President of the CAT called the Superintendent and informed him of the decision.

So...what we had hoped to avoid has come to pass. The CAT bargaining team endured twenty-six negotiations sessions with two different Board teams...over ten months. CAT members have been without a contract since August, 2001. CAT members have been denied their experience step. CAT members have had their salary CUT by 3.75%. The CAT had hoped that the Board of Education would finally sit down at the table and work WITH their employees for the betterment of the District...and the community at large. However, the District has shown...especially in the last few weeks...that they are only concerned with THEIR priorities...a new school, a new administrative position, a new set of offices, or to pay lawyers thousands of dollars to fight employees. It was a blueprint for dissension and disaster.

Beginning Thursday morning, we can all begin to regret the Board's latest folly.

FOOTNOTE:

All teachers should begin securing and/or removing any personal items from the building over the next two days. We must proceed under the assumption that you will not re-enter the building after Wednesday afternoon until settlement is reached.