WTEA 'Outraged' By Board President's Remarks
Association reacts to Przybylski's public statement regarding ongoing contract negotiations.
Warren Board of Education President Greg Przybylski's willingness at Tuesday night's public meeting to reveal information on the ongoing contract negotiations between the district and the teachers union has "outraged" the Warren Township Education Association.
In a statement released Wednesday night, Fran Blabolil, president of the WTEA, said Przybylski "continues to antagonize the impasse situation between the BOE and the Warren Township Education Association with the remarks he shares with the public."
Przybylski provided a summary statement at Tuesday night's meeting that described the board as offering 3.5 percent increases over two years and acceptance of the medical plan. He said the WTEA was seeking 3.5 percent increases over three years and language holding the board to cover any increased health-care costs that might arise.
"By sharing information, the board president continues to denigrate the process with his public remarks," Blabolil said in the statement. "More importantly, the remarks do not move either side closer to a settlement and only serve to demoralize the staff of the Warren Township Public Schools."
"Despite the fact that the law forbids it, Przybylski continues to fan the flames of discontent with information intended to mislead the public into believing that the members of the WTEA are acting unreasonably," Blabolil said.
The WTEA has been without a contract since July 1, 2010. Negotiations began in the fall of 2009.
"The WTEA will not negotiate with the public or in the public arena; we will not violate the bargaining process no matter how many times the board chooses to," Blabolil said.
"But the members of the WTEA will also not stand for this type of behavior. WTEA members have been working for two years without a new contract, and any actions on their behalf to demonstrate their united efforts to support their bargaining team will continue."
The WTEA's full statement can be found on its website.
Susan M.
10:20 pm on Thursday, October 13, 2011
Good job Mr. Przbylski! You have my support and the support of many other residents who are outraged that any contract would include guaranteed coverage for health care increases for 3 YEARS!!!! Does the WTEA have eyes and ears???? Do they not see or hear about the health care crisis that has plagued this country during the last 15-20 years with businesses facing 20-30% yearly premium increases? By asking for such for such outrageous contract terms, they are thumbing their noses at the taxpayers. And, contrary to popular belief, they are not underpaid and their current benefits probably appreciate their compensation package by another 50-75%. No one gets that those types of benefits in a private corporation. Not everyone who works for a private entity is making more in salary than a teacher is either. The days of teachers salaries lagging behind private salaries have been over long ago.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MR. PRZYBYLSKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Generosa Poli
1:56 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
Settle the teachers contracts NOW....These teachers deserve it, they educate our children and prepare them for the future......
goridge
2:21 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
@ Prideinwarren, Your comments indicate that the teachers are not paying their share for health care. According to the new legislation - they will be paying up to 30% of the health care premium within the next few years.
Settle the contract with the staff. Make your community whole again and start the rebuilding process.
footballdad
8:10 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
@goride
You are correct about legislation. No board has the legal right to bargain health care costs. That right was lost with legislation that mandated the way teachers pay. Still unsure why this board keeps bringing that up and "fanning flames". The board GAINED money into the system by having legislation on their side. The cost of health care is being mandated to be shouldered by the teachers. That should leave money to settle. What exactly is the hold up?
footballdad
8:19 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
@prideinwarren
I suggest you get fully informed before you make sweeping generalizations about people in general, our teachers specifically.
footballdad
8:34 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
@prideinwarren
Did you also know that additional new legislation forbids towns to increase school budget/burden on tax payer at more than 2.5%? Regardless of how high health care goes...teachers rate of pay into remains fixed, taxpayer increase remains fixed. So in essence if they went through the roof, it would become the burden of the board to balance the budget. They may need to spend less, waste less...perhaps on lawyers? How much have they wasted so far? They will not have your taxpayer money hanging around to play a "wait and see" game in which they hedge their bets on pending legislation being on their side all the while racking up lawyer fees to fight the process. How much did it cost to get to fact finding in lawyers fees? GET INFORMED!
Steve S.
9:03 pm on Friday, October 14, 2011
"You all forget something. Everyone has the free will to leave if they are unhappy with their circumstances. Years ago when we had the same problem, the kids had to deal with teacher signs placed on their cars about how the teachers could better pay and benefits if they worked elsewhere."
footballdad
10:55 am on Saturday, October 15, 2011
@Susan, when you negotiate with someone, teacher or not, with the premise that "you are free to go if you want", you send a message that they are of no value. I have a feeling that is how these employees feel. If that is what the town wants, what the board wants then good job on making the teachers feel like if they leave no one cares
Alyson
11:53 am on Monday, October 17, 2011
Please leave the children out of this. I hope that everyone can agree that this should not impact the children. They are innocent. All of this should not be brought into the classroom during working hours or hours that are paid. Everyone has the right to stand up for what they believe in ON THEIR OWN TIME. My child should not be used to send or communicate a message. What are they being taught by this? My daughter wants to know why all her teachers dress like they are going to a funeral and wear red buttons. I don't know why this display is being made to children.
Sue
8:59 pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011
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Sue
9:06 pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Teachers do not go into the field of education to make money, they do it because they love children and enjoy making them learn. However, taking care of their own families does take top billing, and who are we to judge them?
@footballdad...your ideas are accurate and insightufl
@prideinwarren...if you actually had pride in Warren, then you'd realize why many families, including my own moved to Warren.... for it's great public schools