The Broadside

June 18th, 2008

State Budget Brighter, District Refuses to see the light

The District and FMEA have been negotiating with both formal and informal proposals in order to try to reach a two-year agreement.

FMEA came to the table on May 29th with an informal proposal to counter the District's formal proposal. Our informal proposal included:

• 3.5% retro to July 2007 for year one (07-08)
• COLA formula for year two (08-09)

ON June 18th, the District came back to the table with an informal proposal as a counter.

• 2% raise on schedule retro to January 1, 2008
• 1.5% off schedule bonus retro to July 2007 (one time money)
• Year two would be 0%, which would not include COLA raises (State is considering funding COLA at 1-2%, for next year.)

We find it frustrating that the District has proposed COLA for year two until this last round of bargaining when the news that the state might be funding COLA for next year was announced. Now it appears that the District will receive COLA money next year but is not willing to give members any portion of it.

We have set more negotiations dates in September. We will meet on 9/17 and 9/24.

Past Broadsides:

May 15th, 2008