Teachers, admin officials urged to meet

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE
lvanhulle@record-eagle.com

June 27, 2009 08:50 pm

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Teachers and administrators in Traverse City Area Public Schools this week will attempt to hammer out differences in how they interpret the district's finances.

They'll meet Monday morning, the first such session since May 19, and will come about two months before the teachers' contract talks enter mediation.

The agreement to meet came during a school board meeting last week, during which board members urged both sides to get together sooner than the Aug. 25 mediation date.

Board members particularly are concerned about the length of time that will elapse between negotiation sessions. The district began negotiating with the 640-member Traverse City Education Association in July 2008. A one-year contract expired Aug. 31, 2008.

"There's a breakdown on both sides," board member Dave Barr said. "Maybe just a meeting to get everybody into the room to decide what you're going to argue about wouldn't be a bad idea."

Teachers asked the district to meet on multiple occasions after administrators did not counter the union's May proposal. Teachers then requested mediation.

Superintendent James Feil this month released a memo on the district's Web site that contained details about both teams' positions. Teachers contend they found inaccuracies on both sides.

Arthur Przybylowicz, Michigan Education Association general counsel, is processing an unfair labor practice against the district for publicly disclosing negotiation information.

"Let me assure you that it is unlawful under Michigan law to disseminate inaccurate information" about bargaining, he said. "It's so very important that this community stop the game-playing."

Both sides intend to use Monday's meeting to reach consensus on the district's finances, including savings and costs as they relate to the contract.

The board's insistence that talks continue is "a very positive sign," TCEA President John Scrudato said.

Feil, who thus far has not attended a negotiation session, said the two sides are "not able right now to move forward without some assistance." But board members said continued discussions could negate the need for a third party.

Feil said he will attend Monday's meeting.

The union would be willing to negotiate early only if the district presents a "bona fide" counter offer, said Don Hakala, MEA UniServ director and chief negotiator.

Aug. 25 was chosen for mediation because it is the earliest date that accommodates all parties' schedules.

Before anything can be resolved, the facts need to be consistent, board member Suzann Brooke said.

"They have to get the same set of numbers in front of them," she said. "You can't negotiate if you don't meet."