Journal & Topics Media Group

Union Claims Dist. 211 Spreading ‘Misinformation’


Union President John Braglia greets Dist. 211 high school teachers taking part in Tuesday’s picket in front of the district administration building in Palatine. Union members want a new contract and will hold an informational meeting for the public Thursday night at Palatine High School. Turn to page 2A. (Richard Mayer/Journal photo)

Editor, Journal:

 

The recent posting regarding the ongoing negotiations between the Northwest Suburban Local 1211 Teacher’s Union and the board of education was an example of the disappointing lack of respect and value the teachers are feeling due to the overall tone and misinformation projected in the board’s statement.

The consistent, conscientious effort to bargain in good faith was indeed happening on both sides up until the board canceled a series of meetings the first week of June. During this same week, a law was signed in Springfield regarding the modification to teachers’ pension contributions. The outcome of this law did indeed have an impact in the direction of the economic discussions moving forward.

The union is truly disappointed in the lack of accuracy of the board’s statement due to information that was consciously omitted such as the discrepancy in cost calculations which the union continued to request (not demand) for clarity in order to be completely transparent in the economic portion of their proposal.

Supt. Dan Cates at one point did agree that the calculations being used by the union were indeed correct. The union then provided in two consecutive meetings two more adjusted proposals, lowering their overall requests each time. The board at either of these sessions provided no official response in full, yet the board requested a federal mediator even after being provided with an approximate $6 million cut in costs by the union as an effort to continue to bargain in good faith.

The public is invited to a town hall meeting on Thursday, Nov. 29 in order to provide facts about the multitude of layers surrounding these talks, which involve much more than salary lanes as suggested by the board. The priority in valuing the bricks and mortar of the district’s facilities was made evident by the large transfer of funds traditionally used for personnel into the capital outlay budget.

This is demoralizing to approximately 1,100 people who provide the students of this district with excellent educational experiences and opportunities, which is the reason why Dist. 211 is one of the most sought after school districts people look for when purchasing a home.

The union would like to go on record to discredit the claim that any “demands” were made in this process in any area of the contract. The final statement regarding tuition reimbursement is not accurate and will be explained by the union negotiating team further along with all other aforementioned areas referenced in the public posting from Nov. 25 on the district’s website.

 

John Braglia

Union President

 

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