West Morris Regional School Board, Teachers to Meet For Contract Talks

After a summer of silence, it’s back to the negotiations table.

The West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education and West Morris Teachers Association haven’t spoken about a new contract since the end of last school year, which meant the 2015-16 calendar began with educators starting their third consecutive school year without a new pact.

The next step in the process, however, is coming soon. The board and teacher’s association is set to meet with a state-appointed Super-Conciliator on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

But what’s a super-conciliator, and how did the sides get to that point?

It’s been a long road, one that seemed to have a finish line in June, but the teacher’s association put the brakes on the process and opted to go a different route.

An independent fact-finder was appointed to the negotiations – after being agreed upon by both sides – and presented his data to both sides in June. Per contract negotiations guidelines, both the board and teacher’s association had 20 days to accept or deny the findings.

The board, in a special meeting, voted unanimously to approve the findings. The teacher’s association and its more than 200 members held a vote, which resulted in a no to the findings. The number of teachers who voted yes or no was not disclosed.

The negotiations process began more than two years ago, ahead of the union’s contract expiration.

The full report composed over several months by the arbitrator, which can be found online here, analyzes starting salary in the district, annual raises over a three-year period, and cost for prescription medicines as its most major components.

The fact finder’s synopsis, which can also be seen here, shows three significant recommendations, including:

Salary increases:

• A 2.25% salary increase for the 2013-14 year (county average was 2.05%)
• A 2.35% salary increase for the 2014-15 year (county average was 2.16%)
• A 2.45% salary increase for the 2015-16 year (county average was 2.22%)
• A 2.40% salary increase for the 2016-17 year (proposed by arbitrator, but a fourth year was not included in either the board’s or the union’s proposals)

Slight increase in prescription co-pay
Increase of a starting salary from $47,535 to $50,170

According to the report, in the final year of the current contract, 2012-13, the West Morris Regional Education Association ranked highest in Morris County for average salary.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21.