CAT Tracks for October 7, 2011 NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

On Tuesday night, negotiations went from "testy" to "mellowing out"...both sides expressing pleasure at the table discussion that provided information and rationale for positions held.

On Thursday night, negotiations went from mellow back to testy when the BOE team took exception to more than one person speaking at a time...expressing the view that it was too difficult to follow.

The BOE team insisted that only the team spokesperson speak...all others would have to remain silent.

Well...hush my mouth!

So...

...the exchange of information and ideas ended abruptly.

The "upside" ...since the CATs were muzzled, we were able to go through the remainder of the BOE's package with time to spare. The session that was scheduled to last for two hours was over in one hour and twenty minutes. (Incidentally, the BOE's insistence on only the spokesperson of each team speaking evidently did not apply to them...as three of their team took turns explaining their proposal. Rank has its privileges, I suppose.)

Unfortunately, there were many unasked, unanswered questions...which will most likely cause difficulties in the future, cause time to be consumed back-tracking over "misunderstandings".

The meeting that was scheduled for Thursday, October 13th has been canceled...at CAT's request.

After we "adjourned" at 6:50 p.m., the CAT team remained behind in the Board Room for a caucus. There was a brief discussion on "expectations" for the next meeting. With CAT team members muzzled, there had been no opportunity to discuss a positive assurance given to a BOE request that CAT present a counter to the BOE's proposals for Articles II and III.

There are "extenuating circumstances":

• Former UniServ Director Larry Bell has been "subbing" since the departure of Jim Tammen. Due to some family health issues, Larry told us before tonight's meeting that this would be his last...that a new Region 2 UniServ Director has been hired and that he would be taking over.

• The new UniServ Director has been in training...MAYBE will be on the job today for the first time. With Monday being a holiday and not knowing his schedule, the CAT team had no way of knowing if/when we could meet prior to next Thursday's negotiations session in order to bring him up to speed and draft a counter.