FeedsDistrict teachers wrangle over contract
Representatives of the teachers union and Wayne-Westland school officials will be doing some weekend homework before school begins Tuesday.
The contract between the Wayne-Westland Education Association (WWEA) and the district expired Monday. At a union meeting Monday evening, members voted to allow the union to allow the negotiating committee to “take action”, if necessary.
“The vote passed with 96 percent approval,” said John Retzer, vice president of the WWEA. “No vote was taken to do anything specific. The plan is for them to continue to negotiate.”
Wayne-Westland School Superintendent Gregory Baracy agreed that he expects both sides to continue to negotiate throughout the weekend, if necessary, to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Talks began in May, according to officials and Retzer said there are three main bargaining issues:.class size, health care, and salary.
He said that educators are currently expected to teach as many 34 students per class and as many as 38 students per class at the high school level. He said teachers want to see smaller classes for the sake of the students’ educations.
He said the teachers are demanding what they consider “quality health care.”
Finally, he said that they hope for salary improvements and indicated that the district is “currently at the bottom of Wayne County” in terms of starting salary.
In an Aug. 21 statement on the district web site, however, officials pulled no punches as they explained the district stance on the matter.
“The Board of Education values all of the employees of the district and we are committed to fair and equitable contracts with all of our bargaining units, including the WWEA,” the statement read. “But we will not compromise the education of the children of this district; we will not jeopardize the fiscal stability of the district; and we will not ignore the economic conditions that our taxpayers are experiencing. We owe it to our community to bargain responsibly.”
The statement also charged that the costs associated with meeting the union demands would require the district to cut into student resources, such as the amount of money spent on textbooks and technology, because the district cannot spend more than it receives in revenue.
“I anticipate both the district and the union will continue to negotiate in good faith,” said Baracy. “All we are looking for is to continue to find some middle ground so that we can contain costs.”
Should the two sides be unable to hammer out an agreement before the start of the school year, he said that the union would effectively be left with three options: continuing to work without a contract, go to work under the terms of the old contract, or to decide they are not going to work without a contract.
As public servants, Michigan law makes it illegal for teachers to go on strike. Despite that, Retzer confirmed that the union would consider a ‘labor delay’ that could potentially delay the start of the school year if such a step proves necessary.
“It was illegal for Rosa Parks to sit on the bus,” said Retzer. “Sometimes you have to stand up for what’s right.”
He stressed, however, that it was too soon to tell what actions, if any, the bargaining team might ultimately deem necessary and that the union hopes to see matters resolved satisfactorily without the need for such a step.
“Obviously, our first concern is to get a contract—a fair contract,” he said. “We want to get back to work. We want the kids in the classrooms. I want to pass out books on Tuesday.”
Baracy said that he doesn’t expect the first day of school to be pushed back for any reason.
“We are planning for a normal opening of school,” said Baracy
