Wantagh Union Givebacks Coming Soon?

[Chris_Wendt]

I gave this some pause before posting it, realizing it is a potential hot button. But I think this topic now should not just simply be ignored, so here goes...

Both Nassau and Suffolk Counties have requested their unions consider contract givebacks because of the economy. Sure, like the Wantagh School District, the county governments have taxing authority, and can always raise taxes to make-up budget shortfalls. And the county budgets are NOT subject to popular vote, as is the school budget. And like the Wantagh School District's unions, the County unions are under NO OBLIGATION to re-open their contracts or to negotiate concessions.

Nassau, at the last report I read, had successfully negotiated concessions or give-backs with 4 out of 5 of the county unions, including the Police, and talks were ongoing with the 5th union.

Suffolk is just starting the process with their unions.

Now, one thing is for sure. No union is going to come forward to any employer (county, town, school district, or corporation) and just volunteer contract concessions out of the blue, without the employer first having asked for the concessions. That is a fact of collective bargaining life.

So, unless and until the Wantagh Board of Education comes out of their comfort zone on this issue and formally--and publicly-- requests their employee unions to sit down and discuss concessions, it ain't ever going to happen.

Advice to our school board members, please do not delude yourselves into thinking the community is simply "OKAY" with you NOT EVEN BOTHERING TO ASK FOR CONCESSIONS, and, of course, then reporting publicly on the outcome or response to that request from each union.

PS - having Chris Venator quietly ask his counterpart in each union something like, "Hey, you guys are not interested in opening your contract to negotiate some concessions, are you?" and then quietly whispering to the board that, "No, just as we expected, NONE of the unions are willing to open their contracts!"...that is NOT what I mean by asking the unions for concessions. Read the press about how Souzzi and Levy are doing or have done this successfully.

I feel that IF the school board comes right out and requests concessions from the unions, publicly, then WE THE PEOPLE will at least know that the school board members have our best interests at heart. Regardless of the union responses.

Conversely, if the school board remains passively silent and simply ducks this controversy altogether--while the County is realizing and publicly reporting concessions from their unions--then we would know where the true loyalties of the board members lie, I mean between WE THE PEOPLE and their unions.

There you have it.

Chris Wendt

[lilly]

I'm surprised no one has responded.

Last year, the BAC recommended the district look into getting another law firm since an Ingerman Smith lawyer was the first to be "busted" for the pension scandal that wound up being a problem across NY state. While Wantagh was not involved in that, it did raise questions. And Ingerman Smith is one of maybe 2-3 education law firms that have the lock on handling all LI districts e.g., union contract negotiations which makes everything muddy.

Everyone is doing concessions on their jobs, union or not and big statement that Nassau is getting concessions out of 4 of 5 county unions. It's just not a great environment for business as usual.

[Chris_Wendt]

I know this is a difficult topic for some people to address in a manner that would initiate or implement concessions from unions. However, 'conflict avoidance', while an understandable reaction, really is not in anyone's real interest concerning this topic.

It should be highly unlikely that each and every one of the five (5) members of the school board does not think they should at least request concession bargaining from the district's unions. Yeah, we know the importance of the Board of Education maintaining a publicly "united front' and not going off in opposite directions on this (or most any other issue). But those deliberations and machinations are best done in private among the board members, with both (opposing) viewpoints on this topic being discussed frankly, if not respectfully or in a moderate tone of voice, which is not always the case as the hour grows late and the debate gets heated.

Eventually the school board must come to consensus about concession bargaining, and if the answer if 'No way, Jose!', then the community, we, out here, will become fully aware of that decision, even if they do not publicly announce a negative position.

Of course, they could actually decide to go for it, and request each union to open concession bargaining. Without "NEGOTIATING IN PUBLIC", the BoE can certainly announce their request to negotiate IN PUBLIC, and then leave it to each union to take their own stand for or against that request.

It is rather my intention that this issue not be permitted the luxury of hiding under the carpet for too much longer, however. That is, of course, unless the budget and tax increase WITHOUT UNION CONCESSIONS are in the 3% range.

Is that likely? What do you think?

Chris Wendt

[lilly]

I'm going to throw this out there - not related to unions but reflects concessions occurring in the private sector. We have at least two open expensive "executive" positions. That is after filling Dr. B's spot at a considerable pay increase - a whopping 25% raise from asst super to super. Do those open positions need to be filled this year? I think that question needs to be asked, carefully examined and realistically answered without a knee-jerk "yes, absolutely" defensive answer. It still blows my mind that reinstating a PR contract and clericals were proposed yet there are kid programs that remain excluded in the draft to date. The district is in the business of educating kids, not maintaining or increasing headcounts.

I don't know what the right % increase is this year - what will and won't be acceptable to voters. 3% definite win, 7% not sure. To not question the way we've done business in the past is not good.

[renee]

Does any one if we are we filling the position for asst supt for instruction? Or is the district going to save money there?

[Chris_Wendt]

I don't know whether or if or how that position will or will not be replaced, or how much if any money will be saved.

At last week's BAC meeting it was indicated that the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction was presently performing the duties of the former PR person for the district, and that next year's budget has money proposed to hire a professional PR service and thus relieve Dr. Begley of that task. Is that the extent of "replacement"? I don't know.

Chris

[Chris_Wendt]

"GIVE-BACKS" Don't Always Mean Pay Cuts!

Naturally, the first thing most people think of when there is talk of union "Give-Backs" is pay cuts, or salary freezes. Naturally.

But I was discussing this on the train last night and it was brought to may attention that High School teachers are actually only teaching in their classrooms less than 4 hours each day. So, one really easy concession that would not require a pay cut could be for the union to agree to have secondary teachers spend more time teaching in the classroom.

If they added two more classroom teaching periods per day, that would bring each teacher's daily classroom teaching time up from less than 4 hours to about 5 and a half hours per day. Adding three periods would bring them all the way up to 6 and a quarter hours daily. This is much more like "real world" work-a-day jobs, where most people spend 7.14 hours at their duties.

Now, that concession would not require any cut to the teachers salary schedule. However, the savings could be very large to the district.

This almost makes too much sense to me...what do you think?

Chris Wendt

[kimb]

At the last BAC meeting that question was asked,There was No response .
Wantagh schools website has posted a job opening for an ASST SUPT for instruction so I guess that means Yes they are going to fill that position. DR. Begley or anyone would have a hard time doing the job of two.

[Chris_Wendt]

This issue (Union Contract Concessions) was touched upon during the course of last night's (03-18) BAC Meeting. Dr. Bonuso had been explaining a difference between the Levittown teachers' union contract and the Wantagh teachers' union contract, concerning the number of days of work during the school year, and the different way the NCLB Assessment scoring is handled in each district.

Jean Quinn, Vice President of the Board of Education and the Board's Liaison to the BAC stated that the Board of Ed was actively speaking with the district's unions about various ways the unions and district employees could help and participate to improve the district's situation. She indicated that the Board of Ed wanted this to be understood by the BAC.

Thanks to Jean and the rest of Board of Education, as well as to any of the unions, their leadership and employees who are taking part in finding solutions to these critically pressing problems currently facing all of us.

Sincerely,

Chris Wendt