Agreement Ends Long, Bitter Battle in Waterford

The new district administrator is being credited with completely turning around the atmosphere in the Waterford Graded School District and quickly settling what was a long, bitter teachers contract dispute.

Finally, said union president Jane Aegerter, "Everybody feels like we are being valued as teachers."

With the arrival of new administrator Gwen O'Cull, the bargaining climate improved remarkably this fall, teachers said. Waterford Graded teachers had been working without a contract since July 1, 1995. By October, the teachers and board had settled contracts for 1995-97 and 1997-99.

"She was willing to sit down together with us and talk about it," Aegerter said.

The contract is a positive one for teachers, and breaks through the traditional restraints of the Qualified Economic Offer law, said Dennis Eisenberg, WEAC's negotiations specialist. It provides an average step salary increase of 3.6% per year over four years.

Overall, the base salary increases 11.6% over four years and the maximum salary increases 20.7% over four years, Eisenberg said.

The contract reduces the number of steps from 16 to 13 and adds a new lane for teachers with a bachelor's degree and 30 years of experience. It also upgrades the long-term disability program.

Waterford teachers were very active last year in protesting the QEO law and the school board's bargaining position. They implemented limited job actions -- refusing to perform many voluntary duties -- and conducted picketing outside school board meetings. At one point, students at Fox River Middle School staged a walk-out to show their support for the teachers.

Waterford is southwest of Milwaukee.

Posted October 9, 1997