Elkhorn Teachers Picket Board Meeting
WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer speaks to Elkhorn teachers.
Members of the Elkhorn Education Association picketed outside a school board
meeting Tuesday (May 28, 2002) after reviewing what they termed the latest
"non-offer" from board. Since the beginning of the bargain, the
board has not added any money to its original offer, local association officials
said.
"They
have given us one offer and then another and then another, but they have
never put any new money into it. They just keep shifting it from one place
to another," said EEA President Jim Sesing. "This isn't about
money anymore. It's about respect and dignity."
Paul Martell, a negotiator for the EEA, told members the board reports
its numbers to the community and EEA members in a way that confuses and
confounds.
"You can't compare apples to oranges," Martell told the group.
"Either talk about salary honestly and alone or the package honestly
and alone, but don't talk about the package like it was salary. And don't
say we are getting a 3.59% salary increase when 2.88% of that is the normal
movement to the next year of experience."
After the meeting, members moved outside to conduct informational picketing
before the board met. During picketing, the board president stopped and
told one EEA member the teachers just didn't understand the facts and
that she "would be glad to sit down and explain them to her."
The members indicated they would look forward to that opportunity and
that they have a lot of questions for her.
At the board meeting, EEA members were given only 10 minutes to air their
thoughts. Sesing's request for some extended time was rejected.
WEAC Vice President Terry Meyer asked the board, "How much respect
and dignity do you show your teaching staff when you increase your administrators'
salaries 5%, consider resurfacing the track, building a new tennis court
or putting in additional parking when you won't even consider giving your
teachers a modest increase in their salaries? How many new staff will
you hire when they hear that is how you treat your teachers? How many
young staff will you keep under these conditions?"
Finally, Nicole Papenfus, a seventh-year elementary teacher told the
board she felt comfort in her job. "But I find great discomfort in
the realization that I may not be able to stay in teaching because my
salary does not keep up with the cost of living."
She concluded, with emotion in her voice, "I want to make kids read,
make kids write, make kids wonder, make kids question, make kids understand.
I already know that I make a difference. I'd like to know that I can make
a living."
On Wednesday, the day after the picketing, the board informed the EEA
it had decided not to pay the full insurance premium for the first year
for this year's retirees at the 100% uncapped rate, as agreed to in the
contract. The district argued that since it switched back to WEA Insurance
from self-funded insurance, it felt it could now change the language unilaterally.
"With health care insurance projected to increase 26% next year,
it is sure a funny way to say thanks to the retirees for all their years
of dedicated service to Elkhorn's children," Meyer said.
He said the Elkhorn School Board and the administration "are bound
and determined to break the will of the teachers in Elkhorn, but the EEA
is solid."
"They represent what is best in WEAC," Meyer said.
Posted May 31, 2002
Resource page on the Qualified
Economic Offer law