WTEA Responds to Board's Statement on Contract Talks

In response to Warren Township Board of Education President Gregory Przybylski's update on the state of contract talks made at Monday's board meeting, the Warren Township Educaiton Association says no offer of 10.25 percent salary increases was made.

"Quite the contrary, the first night of mediation held in September was the board’s first official offer of 1 percent, 0 percent and 1 percent for each year of a three-year agreement," a statement by the WTEA said. "That offer would have our members working for less money than they are presently making in Warren and was therefore rejected.

"The next official offer came on the first night of fact finding on June 8, 2011," the statement added. "Again, the offer would have our members making far less than they presently bring home."

The statement notes the union's disagreement with the "unilateral" imposition of changing to the state health plan,  noting the change was made "WHILE (sic) we are negotiating."

"We have been in protracted negotiations and working without a contract since last July of 2010," the statement continues. "We are in fact finding, despite the fact that we passed our budget and despite the fact that we are a high performing district. We welcome the efforts of the fact finder to assist us in attaining a fair and reasonable contract. We believe we are a value to the community and to our students and will accept a fair and equitable offer."

The WTEA statement ended with a plea to residents to contact board members to tell them to reach "a fair and equitable offer for settlement."