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CAT Tracks for October 4, 2011
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE |
Like pulling damn teeth...
Over a week ago - at the request of the BOE - CAT offered two possible dates for our first official negotiations session...after three cancellations by the BOE of dates offered by themselves.
As indicated in a September 29th edition of CAT Tracks, CAT then sat...and waited.
For your convenience, below is the abridged "catty commentary" from that edition:
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
Did I mention "frustration"?
Sigh...
The members of the Cairo Association of Teachers have been working without a contract since July 1, 2011...three months.
CAT gave the Cairo Board of Education its initial bargaining proposal on July 7, 2011 (after giving them a "supposal" for fast settlement at the beginning of June...before the end of the school year, before the current contract expired.
The Cairo Board of Education has had almost four (4) months since the "supposal", almost three (3) months since receiving CAT's formal proposal.
What has the Cairo Board of Education given in return?
N-O-T-H-I-N-G!
After canceling three (3) negotiations sessions - for which THEY provided the dates - they decided to quit giving dates...until they had come up with an initial bargaining proposal.
Finally, it was rumored that the BOE had completed its proposal...that they were going to offer September 26 and/or September 28 as possible bargaining dates.
Oops...
CAT then received word that the BOE wanted CAT to offer dates instead.
After checking on the availability of our IEA representatives, CAT offered either October 3rd or October 4th as possible bargaining dates.
That was about a week ago.
What was the Cairo BOE's response?
Bears repeating:
N-O-T-H-I-N-G!
CAT is still waiting...
Well, the wait is finally over!
Oh, CAT was kept waiting through the weekend as no word came about Monday's possible meeting. CAT had to ASS-U-ME that there would be no meeting on October 3rd. (Evidently, the BOE missed the "Courtesy 101" and the "Respect 101" sessions at the annual Illinois Association of School Board's conference. (Oh, yeah, that's right, I forgot...the Cairo Board of Education doesn't go to those anymore, opting instead to accompany Leotis to the National Alliance of Black School Educators' Conference in Texas, New Orleans, wherever. My bad!)
When Madam President returned "the call" from the District's Central Office on Monday afternoon after school, she couldn't help herself...blurting out a question before information could be delivered:
"Don't tell me we are meeting this afternoon?" (Even though we offered the date, arrangements do have to be made by the parties attending.)
The response:
"No, but they may want to meet tomorrow."
Madam President's snappy comeback:
"May?"
Cutting to the chase...
"Tonight's the night!"
With apologies to Rod Stewart, I doubt very much that...
"It's gonna be alright."
Stay tuned
