Calvert education union rejects contract

Mediator will step in

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009

Because of this rejection, both sides will now go to impasse, in which a third party neutral mediator will be chosen to work with the teachers' union and the school system's negotiating team.

The CEA, which represents Calvert County public school teachers, had initially reached a tentative decision with the Calvert County Board of Education to accept a 0.5-percent salary adjustment for all teachers for 2009-10, instead of the previously contracted 4.5 percent, CEA President Debbie Russ said at the time.

Russ now says that CEA members voted against the agreement by two-thirds to one-third, at the contract ratification meeting held Wednesday evening, Aug. 19.

"I guess they felt it just didn't do it," Russ said of the 0.5-percent salary adjustment, which would include all eligible employees receiving step increases and 30-year or more employees who are no longer eligible receiving a one-time 1.1 percent salary increase, mirroring the Calvert Association of Supervisors and Administrators agreement.

Though Russ would not say how many employees were present at Wednesday's meeting, she did say it was the highest turnout she had ever witnessed.

Calvert County public schools Deputy Superintendent Robin Welsh, who led the board of education's negotiating team, said that despite the CEA's rejection of the resolution, teachers still started the school year on Tuesday with a contract.

"They'll have a 0.5-percent salary increase and the teachers who are eligible will receive steps, and we are proceeding to impasse," Welsh said. "I was hopeful they would ratify [the contract] and disappointed to find out they didn't."

Initial salary negotiations between the Calvert County Board of Education's negotiation team and the two unions, the CEA and the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff, or CAESS, reached an impasse in May.

This occurred when Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith added 90 previously cut positions back to the budget by budgeting for teachers and education support staff personnel to have a 0.5 percent salary adjustment, along with step increases based on longevity.

The 90 positions had initially been cut due to a smaller increase in state funding than in previous years.

CAESS, however, was able to settle with the board of education in June, with members agreeing to a 0.5 percent salary adjustment; step increases; individual contributions for health insurance benefits remaining at the fiscal year 2009 contract level; and a one-time payment of 1 percent of support staff employees' base salary being paid to all of the association's most senior members.

Russ said that she believes circumstances for CEA differ from those of administrator and support staff unions, as support staff jobs tend to see more turnover and administrators generally have significantly higher salaries.

"You have to look at the type of jobs they have and we are by far the biggest bargaining unit," she said as to why administrators and support staff personnel may have been able to accept a 0.5-percent salary adjustment.

Russ said that despite CEA's decision, she still does not foresee any positions being cut.

Welsh, however, said that the ultimate decision will lie with the board of education once they receive feedback from the arbitrator, who has yet to be chosen.

"The law is very clear; the board has to have the final decision. … I cannot speculate what will happen down the road," Welsh said.

CEA Chief Negotiator Joseph Sella said that throughout all budget negotiations, "We presented [alternative] cost saving measures and the board rejected them all."

Sella, however, would not disclose what any of these suggestions were.

"We'll go to impasse and we'll present our case, and hopefully we'll receive a favorable decision from the arbitrator," he said.

All sides were able to agree that this is not the ideal way to begin the 2009-2010 school year, which started yesterday.

"We want to get this over as soon as possible … it's unsettling," said Russ, who continued, "I don't think it does any good … but our teachers have spoken."

Welsh said that despite any dissatisfaction, all Calvert County public school personnel are committed to starting the school year with success.

"Everyone is working hard to prepare for the beginning of the year," she said.

lbuck@somdnews.com