CAT Tracks for April 28, 2002 11 HOURS - NO $ MOVEMENT BY BOARD

The CAT team arrived at 10 a.m. for the scheduled negotiations session, but for some reason it did not actually start until 11 a.m. (The Board team claimed that they were waiting for some of OUR members to arrive? That was "nice" of them…except that WE weren't. We knew (and told them) where our two people were…that one of them would not arrive until late afternoon.)

During Friday night's meeting, the CAT team had asked for a printout of what the District paid for teachers' salaries last year…they had already given us figures for the current year. We had asked for this information because the Board team was still trying to plead broke despite the fact that the financial experts (including the District's CPA) had agreed that there was $326,000 available for raises PLUS additional money in categoricals - federal and state grants. We told them last night that the District would spend less money on teacher salaries this year than last - even if they gave us the salary increase that we were requesting. They responded by saying that they did not believe our assertion…but, that they had no way of knowing without running the numbers. Then they decided that they could not stay…had to go home and get some sleep…at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday morning, the Board team finally provided the printout of salaries. According to THEIR report - the District will spend $300,000 LESS on teacher salaries this year than last! So…they have our requested salary and benefits package covered!

In response to our assertion that these figures gave us even more leeway, the Board's attorney (Barney Mundorf) reversed directions…returning to the auditor's $326,000 figure. In an obvious "the best defense in a good offense" move, Barney then charged the CAT with regressive bargaining…stating that we had gone from demanding $250,000 to $287,000. We patiently explained that his charge was NOT TRUE…that Mr. Mundorf simply misunderstood, having NOT been present at earlier negotiations. The other members of the Board team understood that the $250,000 was a "supposal" - an effort to avert a strike. This did not appear to mollify Mr. Mundorf. He was of the opinion that we were at an impasse and should simply close down negotiations and submit the matter to binding arbitration - yet, more money spent to avoid a fair settlement for teachers.

First Caucus - 11:20 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

The CAT team presented a counterproposal to the Board - reducing our dollar amount by $37,000 - to the "supposal" amount of $250,000...and explained the other provisions. Much discussion then took place about "categoricals"…why money can/cannot be put into salary.

Second Caucus - 1:10 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.

The Board team presented a counterproposal with NO MOVEMENT in money AND a "take-away" in insurance language. Their proposal would take control of the selection of the insurance carrier away from the members and give it to the District. The Board team also repeated its desire to go to binding arbitration.

Third Caucus - 3:27 p.m. - 5:55 p.m.

During this caucus, the federal mediator called. We informed him that negotiations had resumed and suggested that his services might be beneficial. After consulting with the Board team, the mediator agreed to come down. Mr. Tygett arrived at 5:40 p.m.

Barney Mundorf interupted our caucus at 5:30 p.m. He presented us with a copy of a District press release. The news release read as follows:

The Board is taking action to ensure that seniors graduate from High School and 8th grade students graduate to High School. Accordingly, the District will have classes on April 29, 2002 for all High School seniors and all 8th grade students. Administrators will provide instruction to these students to ensure they graduate as scheduled. Moreover, the board has determined that the Junior/Senior Prom will be held as scheduled on May 4, 2002."

The press release went on to state: "To implement this plan, the board of Education is asking all junior/senior students and their parents and all eighth grade students and their parents to meet at the High School cafeteria on April 28, 2002 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the Prom and arrangement to return seniors and 8th grade students to class on Monday, April 28 (sic), 2002." Press release signed by "Barney R. Mundorf, Attorney for the Board of Education".

So...once again, the Board of Education is preparing to waste more money...money that could be used to settle its dispute with its employees. We have removed a superintendent, making approximately $100,000 a year, as chief negotiator and retained an attorney making at least $200 an hour. Mr. Mundorf spent eleven (11) hours "at the table" yesterday...hmmm...$200 X 11 = $2,200...not counting travel time. (He spent the night in a motel in Cape Girardeau...and he will be back at the table tomorrow at 2 p.m.) He is racking up the hours...and the money...telling us that the District is "broke" and can't afford to give its employees a raise! Nice work if you can get it!

When a WSIL-TV reporter asked me about the press release, I responded by stating that it was unfortunate that the Board team was spending its time during delicate negotiations preparing and issuing press releases...press releases that reflected a closed mind on their part. I also expressed my concern for the children abandoned by the Board's plan. The CAT came to negotiations with an open mind - a desire and an expectation to end the strike so that ALL students could return to school on Monday, April 29th.

Third caucus ends at 5:55 p.m.

The CAT team presented a counterproposal that further reduced the money requested by the Association. There was much discussion of the second paragraph of their insurance language - who controls the selection of the insurance carrier. Time was spent defining their meaning of "comparable" in switching insurance carrier.

Fourth Caucus - 6:07 p.m. - 8:55 p.m.