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« Traffic alert: Boat on Route 195 east causing backup | Today | Security operation at Providence train station / Photo » August 24, 2007Tiverton teachers' union seeks compulsory mediationTIVERTON -- The union representing some 200 public school teachers here has requested compulsory mediation from the state Department of Labor and Training to force members of the School Committee to the bargaining table. In the meantime, teachers plan to show up as scheduled for orientations on Monday and Tuesday and the first day of classes Wednesday, according to Patrick Crowley, deputy executive director of the National Education Association-Rhode Island, the state affiliate of the Tiverton Education Association. Crowley said the pace of contract talks has been slowed by the fact that the School Committee’s chief negotiator, Schools Supt. William J. Rearick, does not have the authority to reach a tentative agreement. Instead, Rearick must pass along the union’s proposals for a response from the School Committee, whose members have not participated in negotiations, Crowley said. State law provides for compulsory mediation to resolve outstanding issues in any teachers’ contract which has not been renegotiated 10 days after the last day of school in the final year of the agreement. In compulsory mediation, the Department of Labor and Training is “empowered to compel the attendance of all the parties to any and all meetings it deems necessary until the dispute is resolved,” according to department spokeswoman Laura Hart. She said the mediation process will move forward but could offer no additional details today. The union request was received yesterday, Hart said. -- Journal staff writer Gina Macris Crowley, meanwhile, said that the union fully understands the fiscal restraints faced by the School Committee as a result of new property tax relief legislation and the legislature’s level-funding of state aid to local schools. The union has proposed a shift from traditional health insurance that Crowley said would save the school district a significant amount of money, although he was not prepared today to release any figures. He said the change would involve a high-deductible plan coupled with a health savings account. The union hand-delivered its latest counterproposal last Tuesday night to Denise deMedeiros, president of the School Committee, and other committee members, while they were touring the newly-constructed Walter E. Ranger Elementary School on North Brayton Road, Crowley said. An executive session of the School Committee has been scheduled for tomorrow morning to consider the union’s offer. Posted by Andrea Panciera CommentsRichard Rounds | August 31, 2007 8:56 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
The teachers union(s)in RI should be ashamed of themselves by the way they wait until there is no room or days left to negotiate. What they do now is nothing more than holding the kids hostage.
Nice example!