by Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
MILLSTONE — The association representing local teachers has rejected a one-year contract with a wage freeze and is seeking a three-year deal with annual pay hikes of 6 percent in a negotiations process that has become acrimonious early on.
The Millstone Township Education Association — which represents 225-250 employees also including aides, support staff and transportation workers — also is looking to have the district take over all costs for medical, prescriptions and dental benefits beginning in the next school year.
Those proposals are just not in line with the national recession, Board of Education Vice President Margaret Gordon said Monday.
”We were insulted,” she said of the association’s recent tack. “The entire world knows about the economic crisis.”
In addition, she said, the MTEA requests come at a time when the district needs to find ways to reduce $344,000 in spending in an effort to not exceed the state cap.
However, MTEA negotiations chairwoman Irene Pearson said the district is being disingenuous by posting early details of contract talks on its Web site and going public in other ways. She said the district also has refused to share with the association monetary data “to show the true financial picture” of the district.
”Our proposal is an initial proposal, a position of movement,” she said Tuesday.
She said the posted information on benefits is misleading because the district has requested “significant give-backs” in that and other areas.
”The majority of our staff pays 15 percent,” she said. “If the staff winds up paying additional money, they’ll be working next year for less than they are paid now.”
Ms. Pearson declined to elaborate on those give-backs, saying the association doesn’t believe that negotiating in public serves either side.
She added that the association is well aware of the economic crisis referred to by Ms. Gordan.
”I also understand the economic picture for the people we represent, some of whom are single parents and others who have spouses who are out of work,” she said.
The salary range for district teachers with a bachelor’s degree is $48,105 to $74,915, she said, while those with master’s degrees are paid from $51,605 to $78,415.
The district Web site’s “Community Status Report” says the two sides exchanged proposals Jan. 14 and found themselves so far apart on salary, “workday issues,” and benefits that they decided Jan. 19 to seek a mediator from the state Public Employment Relations Commission.
The district reports it quickly followed that up with another proposal “to achieve a short term and swift contract settlement for the 2009-2010 school year, only.
”The proposal was simply a wage freeze for 2009-2010, with all other terms of the contract to remain in effect.”
On Jan. 22, the MTEA rejected that offer, according to the district.
Despite use of the word “impasse” on the Web site, Ms. Gordon said Monday that the district negotiating committee has not formally sought a mediator and is hoping to set up another meeting with the association.
”We’re trying not to go there,” she said of mediation.
The current three-year contract between the school board and the MTEA will expire June 30. Ms. Gordon said the most recent pact granted teachers average annual salary hikes of more than 4 percent, above national cost-of-living increases.
Now, Ms. Gordon said, the association is claiming the district is not showing teachers their due respect.
”As a parent with children in the local schools, I have enormous respect for the teachers. This isn’t about a lack of respect. It’s purely economical,” she said.
Ms. Pearson responded, “I don’t think at any time we’ve questioned the respect they have for us.”
She said the district, however, followed through on a threat to reveal the early negotiations information if the association didn’t immediately agree to the wage freeze. She also said school board President Tom Foley criticized the association on a radio program.
Mr. Foley could not be reached for comment.
Ms. Gordan said the online posting was done in an effort to be “transparent to the community.”

