Township Education Association Issues Statement on Talks

The Warren Township Education Association released the following statement Tuesday:

Warren Township community residents have been hearing a lot about negotiations between the WTEA and WTBOE these last few months.  While the board would like its constituents to believe that they have been fair and agreeable throughout this process, the members of the WTEA know otherwise.

It’s time for the truth.

The truth is, the WTBOE has the funds available to reach a fair settlement.

When we worked to help pass the school budget last year, we assumed the WTBOE wouldn’t delay negotiations any further. But they did.

Warren is the only district in Somerset County that didn’t use at least some of its additional state aid from this past summer for the budget. Nearby districts used that state aid to help settle contracts; residents must ask, “Why didn’t we?”  The WTBOE is also saving hundreds of thousands of dollars every year after having moved the staff to a new health benefit plan.

The truth is, the longer this negotiation drags on, the more it costs the district.

The WTEA has been reaching out since October of 2009 to settle this contract fairly, equitably, and quickly. This delay costs Warren taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees and mediator costs—money that could have been used to settle this contract. Instead, our educators are now in their second year of working under an expired contract, and the community is being led to believe that the board is saving money when in fact, they are needlessly spending it by dragging out this process.

The truth is, WTEA members are already giving back a lot of money to the WTBOE.

Under state law, teachers are paying more for their pensions and health care—a lot more. All of the additional money the staff contributes to health care goes directly back into the WTBOE’s budget; that means pay cuts every year for teachers and staff, and more revenue every year for the WTBOE before the contract is settled.

WTEA members aren’t asking for extravagant raises; we aren’t asking for outrageous salaries. But we need to provide for our families; all we ask is for a fair wage.

The truth is, WTEA members have been extremely patient – but enough’s enough.

Every day the WTBOE delays this process is another day where morale gets lower, teachers feel disrespected, and patience is drained.

It is the duty of the WTBOE to provide the best possible learning environment for Warren’s children; that includes creating a fair work environment for Warren’s teachers and staff. It’s time for the board to step up and work collaboratively with its employees, not obstinately. This contract can and should be settled right now.

On Nov. 28, the WTBOE needs to come to the table with a fair and equitable offer and settle this contract once and for all. No more delays; no more games; no more false and misleading statements.

Because the truth is, not only is it the right thing to do, it’s the law.