Struggles With Teachers' Negotiations Due To Delays in Legislation

The Greendale teachers' union is finding it difficult to work with the school district after Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill was struck down last week by a Dane County Circuit judge.

President elect Colleen Perry of the teachers' union for the Greendale School District said that it has been a challenge to negotiate the 2011-2012 teachers' contract with the delays in legislation in Madison.

The budget repair bill eliminates collective bargaining rights for most public employees and calls for employees to contribute more towards their pensions and take a pay cut.

Perry said she was happy to hear the news but knows that will be a long road.

Neither the school district or the union know how much money they will have to work with.

Perry says that the union will probably continue negotiations as if though the bill has passed to be on the safe side.  Superintendent Bill Hughes has said at school board meetings that it is best to wait for legislation.

“It’s awkward for both sides,” Perry said. “We don’t how much we are working with.”

Hughes said that the district will continue working with the union.

"The administration and board of education will continue to work with faculty and staff to fiscally plan for a variety of outcomes,” Hughes said. “While monitoring the decisions coming out of Madison, we are staying focused on students in the Greendale Schools and the educational programs through the end of school in early June and for the next school year."

GreendaleNow reported in December that in the past the district negotiated two- to three-year settlements with union groups but for the 2010-2011 contract a one-year settlement was reached "due to budgetary uncertainties."

It was also reported that a 2 percent pay increase was given to about 30 staff members from the previous year. The current contract is in effect till June 30, 2011.

If the bill eventually passes Perry says that union members will vote to keep or discontinue the union. Even without collective bargaining the union can still negotiate policies, respond to unequal treatment and negotiate a teacher’s salary under the restrictions.

For now Perry says that the union will continue negotiations for the next school year but hopes that the next governor will value education.