Board, union to have open negotiation

First public meeting set for Tuesday, March 16

Friday, March 12, 2010

Contract negotiations between the Calvert County public school system and the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff or CAESS will be made open this year.

The negotiations will be for a new three-year contract for CAESS, the union representing Calvert County public school support staff.

This was announced on the school system's Web site, which said the decision was made March 2.

The announcement also said that prior notice of upcoming negotiation sessions will be provided so that the community can attend and that proposals from both groups will be provided to the public on an individual section of the Web site: www.calvertnet.k12.md.us.

"Initial proposals are merely opening offers and do not express the parties' bottom lines or final offers … Following the presentation of initial proposals, the parties will work toward solving the difference between the initial proposals by presenting counter proposals," the Web announcement said. "The goal is that the parties work collaboratively to come to agreement on a proposal that addresses the needs of both parties."

When asked for further comment Calvert County public schools spokesperson Gail Bennett said it would be best to speak to someone from the school system's negotiating team, whose chief negotiator, Robin Welsh, could not be reached by time of press.

CAESS chief negotiator Joseph Sella said that due to open negotiations, union and board therefore have no confidentiality and can discuss negotiations with any stake member.

"People are not happy with the board's ideas," said Sella, who continued that no confidentiality "is a great idea for us in that we are able to communicate with our people."

Sella did, however, add that open negotiations have failed in several other counties in that either nobody shows up or too many angry staff members show up.

Sella also said that during past union negotiations "the board ultimately disappears for a private caucus and they can [last] anywhere from 35 to 45 minutes.

" … It's not somewhere where people can really talk or engage," Sella said, adding, "I'm sure people would rather be home watching CSI."

Sella said he is displeased by the initial proposals that the school system's negotiating team made on March 2.

He said that these proposals included cutting the hours of custodial staff from eight to seven hours per day; no cost of living salary increases or step increases based on longevity for all support staff; increasing health insurance co-pays from $10 to $25; a reduction of seniority rights for support staff employees who have worked the longest; and a dress code for all support staff employees.

Sella also said regarding health insurance, "The board has $10 million in the healthcare rate stabilization fund … 22 percent of that money comes out of employee premiums.

"The bottom line is there is not value in this contract for any employee," Sella said.

The first day of open negotiations will be Tuesday, March 16, in the board room at the Calvert County Board of Education's central office in Prince Frederick at 2 p.m., though Sella said he is hoping evening meetings will be scheduled.

lbuck@somdnews.com