To the Editor:
The Hillsborough Education Association and Hillsborough Township Board of Education were unable to reach a contract settlement on April 1, 2019 after six meetings of direct negotiations over the last five months. While the parties attempted to reach a voluntary agreement, negotiations stalled over workload concerns, salary and benefits, lengthening of the work year, scheduling for part-time staff and tuition reimbursement.
Following the Board of Education’s rejection of a proposal package that would have allowed both parties to achieve resolution and accomplish mutual goals, the association declared impasse and has requested the appointment of a mediator by the Public Employment Relations Commission.
It is disappointing that the Board rejected the Hillsborough Education Association’s request to issue a joint statement that adequately reflected the status of negotiations and the circumstances and outstanding issues that resulted in impasse. Regretfully, the Board’s negotiations team chose not to move forward in a spirit of collaboration and thus a third-party mediator is required by law.
Under theContract Resolution and Equity Act of 2003, both parties moved forward with the mediator. If an agreement is not reached the State will appoint a Fact Finder to come in, issue a report and make a recommendation for a settlement.
During this time and until a successor agreement is reached, the District’s employees maintain their rights under the terms of the existing agreement set to expire on June 30, 2019.
Henry Goodhue
President
Hillsborough Education Association
First Vice President
Somerset County Education Association