From the Jenkintown Times Chronicle/Glenside News, August 30, 2006
"Fact finder's report reviewed by both sides in Jenkintown," by Kyle Schulz
From the Jenkintown Times Chronicle/Glenside News, July 12, 2006
"JEA agrees to factfinding," by Kyle Schulz
From the Jenkintown Times Chronicle/Glenside News, June 21, 2006
"Strike option on table," by Kyle Schulz
"Jenkintown School Board OKs budget, 3.66 percent tax hike", by Kyle Schulz
JENKINTOWN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
NEWS RELEASE
NEGOTIATIONS SESSION FAILS TO YIELD AN AGREEMENT IN JENKINTOWN
SCHOOL BOARD TO REQUEST FACTFINDING
Jenkintown, June 20, 2006: The Jenkintown Education Association, PSEA-NEA announced today that no progress was made last night in its negotiations with the Jenkintown School District Board of School Directors. The session lasted almost four (4) hours but the parties met face-to-face for less than one-half (1/2) hour. At the end of the session, the Board announced that it was going to request factfinding from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.
Discussions centered around six (6) issues: prescription insurance, medical insurance, salary, facilities, worker’s compensation and dental insurance. Only dental insurance was resolved even though the Association made a bona fide offer on medical insurance, through the state mediator, in an attempt to move negotiations forward. The Board chose not to respond to the Association’s offer and instead informed the Association that it would request factfinding.
Factfinding is a step in the impasse procedure provided for in Act 88. The process requires the parties to present its position on the open issues and defend them to an impartial third person who issues a report covering each issue. The factfinder may choose the Association’s position on an issue, the Board’s or may fashion an award that he/she sees appropriate. The parties may accept or reject the factfinder’s report. The entire factfinding process lasts forty (40) days from the date it is ordered by the Labor Board. There are no negotiations sessions between the parties once factfinding is ordered.
Negotiations with the Board of School Directors began on December 7, 2005. There have been nine (9) bargaining sessions since then to negotiate a successor to the current collective bargaining agreement which expires on June 30, 2006. A state-appointed mediator has been present at five (5) sessions.
At a general membership meeting held on June 14, 2006, the members of the Association voted overwhelmingly to give the negotiations team the authority to call a strike. This could happen any time after July 1 provided the Association gives the Board forty-eight hours notice of its intent to strike. Additionally, the membership voted not to engage in any non-contractual activities or even enter school buildings during the summer unless contractually required to do so.
The Association represents the fifty-four (54) teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers in the Jenkintown School District. The last time there was protracted negotiations in the District was in 1990. Since then the Association has negotiated four (4) contracts with the Board with no round of bargaining lasting more than five (5) sessions. In fact, two (2) were settled in four (4) sessions and one (1) was settled in just three (3) sessions! The Association’s bargaining team consists of seven (7) experienced teacher negotiators and a JEA/PSEA union representative that has been with the Association since 1986. The District is represented by three (3) school board members and a hired outside labor attorney, who has never before participated in Jenkintown negotiations.
For further information contact Patricia Derr, President at 215-498-6049
From the Jenkintown Times Chronicle/Glenside News, June 7, 2006
"Frustrated teachers picket in Jenkintown," by Lisa Beisel
JENKINTOWN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
NEWS RELEASE
JENKINTOWN
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONTINUES DRIVE TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON THE STATUS OF
NEGOTIATIONS WITH
Negotiations with the Board of
School Directors began on December 7, 2005.
There have been seven (7) bargaining
sessions since then to negotiate a successor to the current collective
bargaining agreement which expires on
June 30, 2006
. The
last bargaining session took place on
May 15, 2006
with no progress made toward a settlement. The
five (5) main areas that remain unresolved include salary, medical benefits,
prescription coverage, high school work schedule and other areas of
compensation, including extra curricular activities.
A state-appointed mediator has been present at three (3) sessions and has
scheduled a bargaining session for
The Association represents the
fifty-four (54) teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, psychologists and social
workers in the
The Association does not want prolonged negotiations and would like a settlement by the end of this school year. This would assure that school for students and teachers will start on time in September, 2006. It is the hope of the Association that the informational picketing will generate a high level of community involvement which will encourage both sides to negotiate a fair and equitable contract.
From the Jenkintown Times Chronicle/Glenside News, May 24, 2006
From the Jenkintown Times Chronicle/Glenside News, May 24, 2006
"Borough teacher takes nomination in stride," by Lisa Beisel