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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Teachers show solidarity

200 SBEA members attend BOE meeting

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
   More than 200 teachers, all wearing black and gold t-shirts with the South Brunswick Education Association logo on the front, came to Monday night’s Board of Education meeting to show solidarity as the union negotiates another three-year contract with the district.
   SBEA President Chris Hines, who is a social studies teacher at the high school, said the teachers have been working without a contract since July 1.
   ”The teachers, counselors, nurses and librarians gathered tonight are hear to communicate their desire to see this situation to be remedied as soon as possible,” Mr. Hines said during the public comments portion of the meeting. “It is not the association’s intention to conduct negotiations in the public forum of a Board of Education meeting.”
   Neither Mr. Hines or district officials would comment directly on the specifics of the negotiations.
   Last year was the final year in the last three-year contract for the union that saw increases of around three percent in each of those years. That agreement was reached through mediation in 2010.
   In 2011, the 750 members of the union voted against a board proposal to freeze wage increases for the year due to declining property values in the township, which lost around four percent of the value of the community, according to township officials at the time.
   At the time, Mr. Hines said that the freeze was voted down because union members feared not taking the contracted 3.6 percent increase — that was part of its three-year contract, approved in 2010 — could mean even less money when state legislation requiring public union employees to pay up to 30 percent for their pension and benefits went through and was signed by Gov. Chris Christie.
   Mr. Hines said the union and district officials have met twice for negotiations so far this year in November and most recently Dec. 6, but those discussions have reached an impasse and a state mediator has been called in.
   He also said the next scheduled meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22.
   Despite the reported impasse in the talks, Mr. Hines said he felt the union and district are “close” to an agreement.
   ”I honestly believe, when we last met Dec. 6, another two hours of hard work would’ve gotten us (an agreement),” Mr. Hines said.
   Mr. Hines also said that the district needs to work together and be able to return to a normal working relationship after the negotiations conclude, “no matter how contentious.”
   Those attending the meeting rose with a standing ovation for Mr. Hines before leaving the meeting.
   One group of about five teachers said they attended to show support for the union, while another group refused to comment on why they came to the meeting.