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CAT Tracks for September 29, 2011
NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE |
The members of two of SIU's four unions have voted to authorize their leaders to call a strike. The other two unions are still in the process of voting or tabulating votes.
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
From personal experience...
A vote by union members to authorize a strike does NOT
Did I mention "frustration"?
The article indicated that SIU employees have been working without a contract since June, 2010.
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 3 or October 4 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...
It's all a matter of priorities. Obviously, CAT members are NOT a priority for the Cairo Board of Education.
Hey, they've been too busy focusing on the needs and wants of one Leotis D. Swopes...making sure that he's satisfied.
If you will pardon my penchant for musical interludes, I am reminded of a song from the Broadway play/movie..."Damn Yankees":
...eating out of the palm of his hand!
So...
SIU employees?
You wanna talk "frustration"?
CATs feel your pain...
From the Southern Illinoisan...
SIU Faculty Association authorizes strike
BY CODELL RODRIGUEZ
CARBONDALE - Members of the Faculty Association voted in favor of authorizing the departmental representative council to move forward on a strike Wednesday.
President Randy Hughes said about 220 of about 250 dues-paying voters cast a ballot, with 92 percent in favor of the authorization. Numbers from the SIU Carbondale Budget Office in July indicated that the union represents 694 tenured and tenure-track faculty members.
Hughes said the turnout and the results reflect the faculty's desire to see negotiations completed and a desire for an agreement that reflects their interests. He said members are ready to move forward.
"We hope this will help bring negotiations to a more productive level so we can move forward to negotiating a fair settlement," Hughes said.
Chancellor Rita Cheng said she was disappointed by the results because she feels the university has made a lot of concessions. She said the university has met the most with the Faculty Association and made the most concessions with it.
"Progress is being made at the table, in my opinion," Cheng said.
She said she does not think a strike would be an appropriate action as long as progress is being made.
However, if a strike does take place, she said the university will be prepared.
Hughes said before the polls closed that the vote sends a message and that faculty members are serious about a fair contract.
"What I've seen here from the people coming to vote is relief that they're able to come and do something to move the process along," Hughes said.
The Association of Civil Service Employees voted 80 percent in favor of strike authorization Tuesday. Graduate Assistants United is expected to vote Friday and the Non-Tenure Track Faculty Association is expected to vote Wednesday.
"Whatever Leotis wants, Leotis gets and little Board, Leotis has got you..."
The Southern
