CAT Press Release May 17, 2002

CAT NEWS
Cairo Association of Teachers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cairo, IL -- May 17, 2002 After leading parents, children, and teachers to believe they were willing to negotiate to end the dispute that has kept Cairo schools closed since April 25th, the District 1 school board today dashed the hopes of the community by refusing to bargain with teachers.

Friday's negotiating session lasted less than ten minutes when the school board announced that there would be no negotiations and that teachers would have to accept the offer already rejected by the Cairo Association of Teachers (CAT).

"This board lied to the parents and the teachers last night when they said they wanted schools back in session," said CAT president, Ron Newell.

"The board has decided that, instead of reopening schools, they would rather slap the children and the teachers in the face. I am ashamed for them."

According to Newell, it was fear of the public that caused the board to claim it was willing to negotiate. There was a huge turnout at Thursday night's school board meeting and the overwhelming sentiment was that that both sides needed to be realistic, get down to business and make a deal.

Newell said only the teachers seem to be heeding the community.

"The teachers have offered to take the one year contract the board offered, then pulled off the table. They also have offered to accept a contract comparable to those the board just negotiated with two other employee unions," Newell said.

The bottom line, Newell said, is that there will be no school in Cairo on Monday because the board, despite the damage, doesn't want school to resume.

"The children are out of school because this board wants schools closed, wants hundreds of thousands of dollars in state aid lost, and wants to continue to pay an attorney tens of thousands of dollars to prolong the strike."

"The teachers will accept any reasonable offer. Anyone who cares about the children of Cairo and our schools should contact the board members immediately and say, 'enough is enough'," Newell said.