PLEASE ATTEND NEGOTIATIONS SESSION
ANTICIPATED DATE: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 (Details will be communicated by email.)
YOUR presence at this session is imperative.
The final opportunity to settle a contract and get on with the business of instruction is upon us.
• Board members need to see the faces of employees and their families—those people whose livelihood is affected by their decisions.
• They need a concrete reminder that the decisions they make affect literally hundreds of people.
• With your presence as their support, the negotiating team will present the teachers’ position on teacher rights issues, as dictated by your recent vote.
• Based on the votes and the comments of teachers who met at the public library, it is clear that teachers don’t want to give up binding arbitration, and that a significant number do not want to give up even the Association’s right to grieve on behalf of a teacher or group of teachers.
• We believe very strongly that the presence of an overwhelming number of teachers at this meeting could positively affect its outcome.
Support your negotiating team
by attending the September 17 session.
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If you have questions or comments, please email LNEAnews@gmail.com.
Check for updates at lneanews.blogspot.com.
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What can I do to help?
==> Attend the negotiations session Monday, September 17 (details to be communicated via email).
==> Check the blog for updates: lneanews.blogspot.com.
==> Speak to your friends, family, neighbors, businessmen, supporters of the Leavenworth Education Foundation about your concerns.
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What can I say?
==> The major sticking point involves teacher rights – the grievance procedure and the suspension/discipline policy
==> Teachers have been able to resolve differences with past administrators under the current policies regarding grievances, suspension and discipline – it is a system that we know is effective and has been successful for decades in our district.
==> Binding arbitration has been used twice in the district. In one case the arbitrator ruled in favor of the school board. In the recent case, the ruling was in the teacher’s favor.
==> Binding arbitration encourages both parties to resolve differences at the lowest possible level of the grievance procedure.
==> An arbitrator does not make rules for a district. The arbitrator merely interprets the language of the contract agreed to and ratified by both parties. He makes sure both parties are following the rules established in the contract language.
==> The alternative to binding arbitration is district court, which is enormously time-consuming and expensive for the district, as well as being detrimental to public relations for USD 453.
==> Teachers will not give up the right to binding arbitration.
==> Failure to settle is detrimental in many ways:
==> It causes negative PR for the district and the city.
==> It has a negative impact on a bond issue that would attract new students and employees to the district.
==> The inability to quote a salary to potential teachers makes it even more difficult to attract quality applicants.
==> Quality new hires are not encouraged to remain in the district.
==> Low teacher morale could result in teachers not being willing to “go the extra mile” with students and their activities.
==> No raises have a negative impact on our local economy.
==> “Happy and Productive Teachers = Happy and Productive Kids”
Thank you for the support you have provided. We appreciate your comments!
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