Members mobilize over union issues
In Calvert County …
When members of the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff heard about the district's request for contract bids for the county's employee-staffed Before and After Care Program, they took immediate action.
This week, member activists protested in front of the Board of Education while CAESS President Steven Brooks, MSTA President Clara Floyd and Calvert Education Association President Deborah Russ explained the consequences of privatization on students, staff and schools. CAESS also distributed fliers throughout the community. “They want to find a cheaper way of providing this care. Cheaper means not paying trusted people good wages and benefits!” the flier exclaimed.
CAESS got news of the district's plan through the county rumor mill, which, says President Brooks, undermined the relationship between CAESS and the Board. “This is not the way to continue the partnership we have fostered and built with the Calvert County Public Schools. We look forward, as a union, to continue discussions to stop this proposal and protect our members' jobs and benefits,” Brooks said.
Read CAESS President Steven Brooks's
testimony to the Calvert Board of Education >>
Read MSTA President Clara Floyd's
testimony to the Calvert Board of Education >>
Read CEA President Deborah Russ's testimony
to the Calvert Board of Education >>
CAESS members protest Board efforts to privatize.
CAESS President Steve Brooks listens as MSTA President Clara Floyd speaks on the issue of privatization.
“Outsourcing in education has been felt the hardest among support services such as transportation, food service, and building and ground maintenance. We believe this practice to be a corporate takeover of the public school system that poses a great threat in three specific areas: quality, accountability and the well being of our children,” said Floyd.
In Baltimore County …
After months of negotiations that led to an impasse over a pay increase, the Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO) announced a “huge win” this week when a mediation panel, citing the “consistently lower COLAs" in neighboring jurisdictions, agreed that a 2% COLA increase was both reasonable and affordable.
The panel concluded that the 2% COLA increase is reasonable and affordable if implementation is delayed until the end of the school year. The school system and County had claimed it could not afford increases for teachers this budget year.
“This is a well-deserved victory for students and for teachers who are so dedicated to providing quality instruction in Baltimore County's public schools,” said TABCO President Cheryl Bost. “It is important for us to have competitive salaries if we want to keep and attract qualified educators.”
The panel recommends adding the 2% COLA to the salary-base, which will assist the county in recruiting high-quality new teachers - Baltimore County dropped this year from 7th to 13th in the state for starting teacher salaries - and for retaining veteran teachers in a highly competitive environment. The report cited comparative data revealing that neighboring counties such as Anne Arundel and Howard negotiated a COLA increase of 5%.
“While the economy overall suggests a more difficult year from the vantage point of affordability than usual, there was no showing that Baltimore County's problems are greater in degree or type than those affecting other comparator jurisdictions,” the report states. It further notes that the other jurisdictions also faced significant reductions in Thornton funding, yet were able to recognize the importance of providing a pay raise for their educators.
“The mediation panel did its homework and agrees with the stand we have taken that teachers deserve a cost-of-living increase, we need to stay competitive, and the system and County have the means to make it happen,” Bost added. “Our next step is to meet with the Superintendent and the Board of Education and encourage them to adopt this report. If we can get this 2% COLA funded, even at the end of the year, it will improve the base salary and help us as we move forward to contract negotiations this fall.”
WBAL: Panel: County Teachers Should Get Pay Raise
In Frederick County...
More than 200 Frederick school employees showed up at Frederick County's Board of Education meeting this week to support planning time for high school teachers.
The Board bucked the recommendation of a mediator by voting against the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA) and against retaining the 45-minute high school teacher planning time that the Board wants to eliminate in favor of mandatory collaboration time. “Your decision to ignore [the mediator's] balanced report because it did not support all of your positions has led us to the distressing situation that we are in tonight. The teachers of this county deserve much better,” FCTA President Gary Brennan told the online Gazette.Net.
Frederick News-Post: No Deal with BOE
FCTA President Gary Brennan thanks the more than 200 supporters for attending the rally.
“I’m here to support the teachers and students of Frederick County!”
Laura Aurandt, N. Market MS
“I want to support the kids. I think we should have our own direction and use of our planning time.”
Phil Duddy, Governor Thomas Johnson HS
“I'm here because I feel that if we don't have a good contract, we won't have happy teachers. Without happy teachers we won't have happy kids. Without happy kids, our test scores will plummet.”
Mathew Kronk, Heather Ridge School
In Harford County…
At press time, Harford County Educational Services Council remained at impasse with the Board of Education over reopeners on salary and insurance for the 2008-2009 school year. The Board, which has continually delayed proceedings, has refused to implement the agreed upon steps and COLA increases.
On Monday, 80 members and supporters gathered at the Board of Education on behalf of HCESC's efforts. An arbiter's report is due today.
HCESC President Barbara Yost and Secretary Carla Fromille confer before the Harford County board meeting this week.
