Contract Negotiations Still Ongoing for Matawan Aberdeen Teachers

The Board of Education announced at their meeting Jan. 23 that they and the Matawan Regional Teacher's Association (MRTA) have not yet reached an agreement concerning contracts.

The MRTA represents Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District teachers, instructor's assistants, clerical staff, bus drivers and maintanence staff.

Board President Charles Kenny explained that the MRTA and the board negotiation's committee held a total of five mediation sessions, the last of which was Nov. 15. During these sessions, the two parties were unable to settle on a contract.

The parties jointly filed for an impasse, and the contract negotiation has entered a fact finding period. A fact finder was recently assigned to their case, Kenny said, but the two parties agreed to continue to meet "in good faith" to work toward reaching an agreement.

Matawan Aberdeen teachers , carrying large signs that read "Working every day for your children," "Negotiate not stalement," and "Dignity will not be negotiated."

At the Nov. 1 meeting, Kenny explained that the MRTA contract expired in June of 2010. The board sent a letter home to district parents on Oct. 28 updating them on the status of the MRTA negotiations. It states that even though the contract has expired, teachers are not working without a contract because by NJ State Law they are still entitled to the terms and conditions of the previous contract until a new one can be negotiated.

According to Carl Kosmyna, the President of the MRTA, district teachers have not seen a raise in the past two years, however they have seen an increase in the amount they have to contribute to their health care benefits and pension.

"The major issue in any negotiation settlement is money," Kosmyna said in November, although he could not discuss the specifics of the contract. "Unfortunately progress has been very slow."