Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for February 2, 1998 CAT (a.k.a. Groundhog) Sees Shadow . . .

It was not February 2nd, but it might as well have been!

Bargaining teams for the CAT and the Board of Education met on January 27th for approximately two and one-half hours. Our side was VERY disappointed that only two members of their team chose to attend the session--Superintendent Bonifield and Tim Pierce! This was particularly disturbing since THEY PICKED THE DATE!!!

These negotiations began in May, 1997--over 8 months ago. We had not met since December 9, 1997. At that meeting they said that THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED in discussing the remaining CAT proposals. They said that THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED in making any movement on their initial monetary offer. Then on January 27th-- after requesting the session --half of their team clearly indicated by not showing up that THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED . It continues to appear that the Board is NOT taking these negotiations seriously.

No progress was made during the session--except clarification on what items had been T.A.'d (tentatively agreed upon) AND THAT THERE WERE STILL MANY ITEMS ON THE TABLE. BUT--when you don't negotiate for weeks at a time, "review sessions" become necessary!

Their team continues to take the position that the monetary situation in Cairo School District Number One is still too "iffy" to provide teachers/employees with decent pay raises--raises comparable with those given in surrounding school districts during this past year. The Board maintains this position despite consistently maintaining a balance of $1,000,000 in the First National Bank of Cairo and the promise from the State of Illinois of an additional $447,000 for the 1998-99 School Year and even larger amounts for the 1999-00 and 2000-01 School Years.

Are those last dates scary or what? The next century is definitely upon us! Surely we will have a contract by then . . .

Any questions/concerns? Bring them with you on Tuesday!