Neshaminy teachers say ‘not far apart’
The Neshaminy teachers union and the district are "not that far apart" from settling their long and often acrimonious impasse, union president Louise Boyd said Tuesday outside the district's offices.
The Neshaminy teachers union and the district are "not that far apart" from settling their long and often acrimonious impasse, union president Louise Boyd said Tuesday outside the district's offices.
Two negotiating sessions in the past two weeks show "that both sides are capable of talking," she said. And when the two sides resume talks on Monday, "it will be clear the distance is not that great," Boyd said at a news conference before a regularly scheduled school board meeting.
Accompanied by a few dozens of the union's 700 members, Boyd said the union has made concessions, including an offer in May to pay a flat 8 percent of this year's health insurance premiums for each of the next three years.
But she said that receiving retroactive pay for the past three years, which the board has said it cannot afford, "is very important to our members."
The teachers are scheduled to return to work Monday, with classes for the student body of about 9,300 starting Tuesday. Earlier this month, the union announced a new work to contract action that includes assembling at the flag pole in front of each school, entering 15 minutes before the first bell and leaving 15 minutes after the final bell. Teachers will participate in all functions involving students and parents, such as orientations and back-to-school nights, Boyd has said, unlike last year, a job action that angered the community.
The district's offer would raise the base pay 1 percent each year; the union's offer calls for raises of 3 percent, 3 percent and 3.5 percent, plus three years of retroactive pay. Webb has said the district cannot afford retroactive pay.
