Story posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Teachers Won't Budge On Pay
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
The Maine Teachers Association (MTA) has again rejected a proposal to negotiate salary concessions to save jobs in High School District 207.
On Tuesday, Mar. 9, union members voted on a school district proposal to trade pay raises in 2010-11 in exchange for saving up to 45 of the 75 certified teacher layoffs planned by the board for the same school year. The district said it was willing to use $2 million in reserves to reduce a looming deficit if the union would agree to give up a similar amount in wage concessions.
The vote was 224 in favor of reopening the contract, and 345 against. That's a percentage margin of 60% against, and 40% in favor.
Emma Visee, MTA president, announced the voting result late Tuesday afternoon, without comment. Last December, MTA members rejected a similar "re-open contract and negotiate pay concessions" proposal from the school district by a similar margin.
This virtually assures the layoff of 70 non-tenured and five tenured teachers for the 2010-11 school year, saving the district an estimated $5 million next year. The cuts were recommended by the district staff and approved by the board in February and March as part of a $12 million cost reduction plan.
The plan was necessary, district officials have said, to deal with a projected $19 million budget deficit in 2010-11.
Also approved are $7 million in program cutbacks and the layoff of about 60 other school employees who are not members of the MTA. The district also is planning to enhance its revenue by $2 million next year through a variety of initiatives.
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