Cairo Association of Teachers - Press Release



CAT Press Release for May 22, 2002
CAT RESPONSE TO ULTIMATUM


Firmly United


May 22, 2002

VIA HAND DELIVERY

Joe E. Griggs, Board President
Cairo School District Number One

Robert J. Isom, Superintendent
Cairo School District Number One

Barney Mundorf, Board Attorney
Cairo School District Number One

Dear Joe, Dr. Isom, and Barney:

The Cairo Association of Teachers hereby rejects "the Board of Education's Proposal A and B" dated May 20, 2002 as presented.

Attached herewith is the CAT's counter - Proposals A and B, which are self-explanatory. However, I will note that Proposal B must be accepted and/or rejected on or before 12:00 Noon, May 24, 2002 or thereafter said proposal is withdrawn by the Cairo Association of Teachers.

If the Board of Education rejects Proposal B and/or the Board of Education fails to respond to said proposal on or before 12:00 Noon, May 24, 2002, the Cairo Association of Teachers thereafter submits Proposal A to the Board of Education.

Please contact me with your response.

Sincerely,

Ron Newell, President
Cairo Association of Teachers

Enclosures


CAT PROPOSAL A
MAY 22, 2002

ONE YEAR AGREEMENT:

1. Binding arbitration - The two parties shall meet and finalize the details for submitting respective positions for a one-year agreement to binding arbitration.

2. Make-Up Days. The Association agrees to make up all seventeen (17) days missed due to the strike and submit unresolved economic and language issues to binding arbitration.

3. No Reprisals as tentatively agreed.


CAT PROPOSAL B
MAY 22, 2002

FIRST YEAR:

1. Salary Schedule for the 2001-2002 School Year as presented. (The CAT would consider Board language on longevity language in lieu of adding an additional step to the salary schedule.)

2. Article IV, Section 4.8. Insurance (Language - for clarification purposes -is negotiable.)

The Board agrees to pay a maximum of $443.32 toward the employee's monthly health insurance premium for individual or family coverage under the District's current health insurance plan. It is the specific intent of the parties that the Board shall continue to pay the full individual premium toward individual or family coverage and that the District's maximum contribution toward any monthly health insurance premium for individual or family coverage shall not, under the terms of this Agreement, exceed $443.32.

It is further agreed that, if the insurance premium is reduced below $443.32, the difference shall be rebated to the employee as additional salary and paid to the employee as a one time payment due within 30 days of the anniversary date. The rebate shall be calculated from the anniversary date of the reduction in premium costs and calculated based on the savings over 12 months. The following stipulations shall be noted:

A. The employee must have participated in the District health insurance plan for 12 full months prior to the anniversary date of the year in which the rebate, if any, is paid to the employee.

B. The rebate, if any, shall not be deemed a perpetual rebate in any subsequent year in which a rebate is paid. For example, if the health insurance premium were reduced to $343.32 for a twelve-month period in the first year, an employee who participated in the plan for the twelve-month period would receive a rebate of $1,200. If the premium remained at $343.32 for a second twelve-month period, the employee would not receive a rebate. If the health insurance premium were reduced to $243.00 in the third twelve-month period, the employee would receive a rebate of $1,200 (the difference between the second and third year premiums and not the difference between the first and third year premiums.)

C. The parties specifically agree that a rebate, if any, paid to an employee pursuant to this contract provision, shall not be considered in any subsequent collective bargaining sessions as perpetual salary and any rebates paid shall not effect the salary schedule cells.

D. The parties specifically acknowledge that, based on the health insurance premiums, there is no guarantee of any rebate in any year of this agreement.

In the event the District changes its health insurance carrier, any selected insurance policy shall provide comparable coverage to the policy in place at the implementation of this agreement. Any change of carrier and/or coverage shall be approved by a majority vote of the employees belonging to said group health insurance program.

The Board shall continue to maintain a 125 Cafeteria Plan which allows each employee the option of sheltering his/her share of the District's group health insurance premiums as well as other insurance premiums determined to be permissible under the plan.

3. Vertical Movement/Make-Up Days. The Association agrees to drop vertical movement language contingent upon the Board's agreement to make up all days and the Board's acceptance of this three-year proposal.

SECOND YEAR: 1 Step for all employees plus 3%

THIRD YEAR: 1 Step for all employees