Teachers not happy with negotiations

Teachers not happy with negotiations Friday, March 12, 2004

Charlie Breitrose Metrowest Daily News

After efforts to get an acceptable contract offer from the district failed, the Framingham Teachers Association has taken to the streets to get word out to parents and town residents.
Teachers have been picketing outside Framingham High School most of the week, and staffs at other schools have followed suit. Union members also handed out leaflets outside Town Meeting on Tuesday night.
"We're trying to inform parents," said Lisa Merloni, a McCarthy Elementary School teacher and chairwoman of the FTA bargaining team. "We want to try to get parents to know what's going on."
The district has offered teachers a one-year flat contract, with no raise except for those earning step raises for years of service and professional training.
The handouts at Town Meeting stress the district's quality of education could drop because of the loss of teachers to other, higher-paying districts due to Framingham's lower salaries.
"The sad reality is that the biggest threat to student achievement in Framingham is the lack of a fair contract," the leaflet reads.
The reception has been positive for the most part, said Denise Gallagher, a Framingham High School teacher. "Only two people out of the whole Town Meeting didn't want to take a pamphlet," Gallagher said.
Barry Kling, a Town Meeting member who represents Precinct 9 and a former School Committee candidate, said most of the folks he talks to are not ready to give the teachers a raise.
"In my mind, there wouldn't be much support for a contract with a (raise)," Kling said. "All the (municipal) unions have accepted one-year contracts with no raises."
One of the difficulties looking at contracts in Framingham is that salaries cannot be negotiated at the same time as health benefits, said Steve Kruger, spokesman for the Framingham Taxpayer Association and a Precinct 1 Town Meeting member.
"I think the town needs to take a complete look at the total employee compensation," Kruger said.
The taxpayer association is sponsoring an article at April's Town Meeting that would combine negotiations of salary and benefits, Kruger said. To do so, the town's health care benefit coalition, which represents all town unions, must be dismantled.
Town Meeting members might be more willing to approve a raise if teachers were asking for a one-year deal, said Andy Limeri, chairman of Town Meeting's Standing Committee on Education. For Limeri, the economic forecast continues to be too hazy for him to go for a longterm deal.
"I've seen (economic) signs going in every direction," Limeri said. "At this point I'm not convinced (giving a raise) is the right thing to do."
FTA representatives said they have been encouraged by people's response to their recent moves. The picketers have received a lot of encouragement, Gallagher said, as drivers honked and waved at teachers holding signs. Students have also taken an interest.
"A lot of kids at the high school are asking what it is about," Gallagher said. "They are asking when we are going on strike."
When asked if the FTA is considering a strike, even a one-day one like Boston teachers have planned later this month, Merloni said she would not comment.
Negotiations started about a year ago, Merloni said, and the union would like to end talks soon. The sides continued negotiations last night in a closed-door meeting.
The FTA would like to meet face-to-face with the superintendent and more of the School Committee, Merloni said. The FTA team has been meeting with Human Resources Director Paula Ceglowski, School Department attorney Aaron Bikofsky and School Committee member Dick Weader.
"We would like to see more representation at the table so we can make decisions at the table," Merloni said.
Superintendent Chris Martes has not joined in, saying he plans to at end of negotiations. Martes said he hopes to see a quick resolution to contract talks, but added the district will have to find more money somewhere to give a raise.
"I think we've had some progress, even if it seems a little slow," Martes said. "As a we pull the budget together it will have an effect."
Martes sees two places in the state budget where Framingham may get more money: special education circuit breaker funds and charter school reimbursement.
The district's negotiating team made an offer earlier this month, said Martes who did not give details.
"We hope that will get things rolling," Martes said.

Teachers not happy with negotiations	Friday, March 12, 2004
Charlie Breitrose	Metrowest Daily News
After efforts to get an acceptable contract offer from the district failed, the Framingham Teachers Association has taken to the streets to get word out to parents and town residents. Teachers have been picketing outside Framingham High School most of the week, and staffs at other schools have followed suit. Union members also handed out leaflets outside Town Meeting on Tuesday night. "We're trying to inform parents," said Lisa Merloni, a McCarthy Elementary School teacher and chairwoman of the FTA bargaining team. "We want to try to get parents to know what's going on." The district has offered teachers a one-year flat contract, with no raise except for those earning step raises for years of service and professional training. The handouts at Town Meeting stress the district's quality of education could drop because of the loss of teachers to other, higher-paying districts due to Framingham's lower salaries. "The sad reality is that the biggest threat to student achievement in Framingham is the lack of a fair contract," the leaflet reads. The reception has been positive for the most part, said Denise Gallagher, a Framingham High School teacher. "Only two people out of the whole Town Meeting didn't want to take a pamphlet," Gallagher said. Barry Kling, a Town Meeting member who represents Precinct 9 and a former School Committee candidate, said most of the folks he talks to are not ready to give the teachers a raise. "In my mind, there wouldn't be much support for a contract with a (raise)," Kling said. "All the (municipal) unions have accepted one-year contracts with no raises." One of the difficulties looking at contracts in Framingham is that salaries cannot be negotiated at the same time as health benefits, said Steve Kruger, spokesman for the Framingham Taxpayer Association and a Precinct 1 Town Meeting member. "I think the town needs to take a complete look at the total employee compensation," Kruger said. The taxpayer association is sponsoring an article at April's Town Meeting that would combine negotiations of salary and benefits, Kruger said. To do so, the town's health care benefit coalition, which represents all town unions, must be dismantled. Town Meeting members might be more willing to approve a raise if teachers were asking for a one-year deal, said Andy Limeri, chairman of Town Meeting's Standing Committee on Education. For Limeri, the economic forecast continues to be too hazy for him to go for a longterm deal. "I've seen (economic) signs going in every direction," Limeri said. "At this point I'm not convinced (giving a raise) is the right thing to do." FTA representatives said they have been encouraged by people's response to their recent moves. The picketers have received a lot of encouragement, Gallagher said, as drivers honked and waved at teachers holding signs. Students have also taken an interest. "A lot of kids at the high school are asking what it is about," Gallagher said. "They are asking when we are going on strike." When asked if the FTA is considering a strike, even a one-day one like Boston teachers have planned later this month, Merloni said she would not comment. Negotiations started about a year ago, Merloni said, and the union would like to end talks soon. The sides continued negotiations last night in a closed-door meeting. The FTA would like to meet face-to-face with the superintendent and more of the School Committee, Merloni said. The FTA team has been meeting with Human Resources Director Paula Ceglowski, School Department attorney Aaron Bikofsky and School Committee member Dick Weader. "We would like to see more representation at the table so we can make decisions at the table," Merloni said. Superintendent Chris Martes has not joined in, saying he plans to at end of negotiations. Martes said he hopes to see a quick resolution to contract talks, but added the district will have to find more money somewhere to give a raise. "I think we've had some progress, even if it seems a little slow," Martes said. "As a we pull the budget together it will have an effect." Martes sees two places in the state budget where Framingham may get more money: special education circuit breaker funds and charter school reimbursement. The district's negotiating team made an offer earlier this month, said Martes who did not give details. "We hope that will get things rolling," Martes said.

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