Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
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CAT Tracks for March 23, 1998
Tentative Agreement |
Bargaining teams for the Cairo Association of Teachers and the Cairo Board of
Education met for approximately 4 hours on Friday night and emerged with a
tentative agreement that
if approved
would be in effect until August 14, 2001.
Yes, you read that right! The proposed agreement is for 4 years!!!
The tentative agreement is too extensive and complex to address completely in
the form of a CAT Tracks. I will, however, give you an overview.
There have been numerous language item changes and additions. Many of these
are in the nature of bringing contract language up to speed with actual District
practice. Several others were specifically written to address real problems
experienced by our members during the past year. Others provide guarantees
and improvements in fringe benefits--e.g. TRS, health insurance premiums, and
term life insurance coverage.
The break-through in negotiations occurred when the Board team abandoned
their previous commitment to the status quo. They made a creative proposal
that addressed their concern for fiscal responsibility and our concern for a
salary increase in light of the District's improved financial condition and the
new money being appropriated by the State for the next 3 years. The formula
that we have tentatively agreed to is a combination of
guaranteed
money and a
"gamble" based on the legislation passed by the General Assembly last
December 2nd. I say "gamble", but it is as close to a sure thing as possible.
BOTH
sides now agree that Cairo School District Number One will receive
additional funding for the next three years, but disagree on the certainty of the
amounts. The Board insisted on contract language that directly addressed that
issue. Therefore, what you will see for the next 3 years is a salary schedule for a
base amount--guaranteed, and "bonus" amounts to be paid in December and
June for the additional money received--
AFTER
it is actually received.
Your team feels that this approach is reasonable. The Cairo Association of
Teachers has always asserted publicly and at the table that we have a vested
interest in the fiscal stability of the District. It is
NOT
to our advantage to
"break the District". After all, it is our jobs at stake! Your team has always
taken that into consideration when we negotiated with the Board.
It is why we
agreed last year to accept a pay freeze
.
The tentative agreement is being reduced to writing and will need to be
approved by the two teams prior to a ratification vote. The CAT team completed
a rough draft over the weekend and it will be delivered to Dr. Bonifield today.
Hopefully, the tentative agreement will be finalized within a day or two and will
be ready for ratification. The Board had already committed to a Special
Meeting for Thursday night to coincide with the mediation session--which, of course, has now been canceled. However, they
indicated that they would proceed with that meeting but take a ratification vote
instead. We would like to do the same. So...
RATIFICATION MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 26TH
3:15 P.M.
CHS CAFETERIA
PLEASE
make every effort to attend this meeting. Your team put
in many long hours over the past 10 months. You owe them this
courtesy. Come prepared to voice your opinion and vote! The
majority of those present will decide whether to accept or reject
this tentative agreement.
