Parsippany HS Bands Skipping Memorial Parade Amid Contract Fight

PARSIPPANY, NJ — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Education Association announced that neither high school band will perform in the Memorial Day Parade this year, as teachers are refusing to work outside of contract hours amidst a contract fight.

"The Parsippany-Troy Hills Education Association supports the decision of its members to refrain from forfeiting their Memorial Day Holiday by not working on the day of the Parsippany parade," the union said, adding that this applies to both high school bands.

Healthcare contributions remain a major sticking point in contract negotiations between the teachers union and the Board of Education in Parsippany, with no new contract on the horizon.

The union framed this as a financial issue, saying, "[Music advisors], like the PTHEA community of educators, can no longer perform services beyond the contractual obligations. Our members have limited any non-school time to family and in many cases, to second and third jobs needed to make up for annual losses of income."

The Board of Education, on the other hand, said that the union was using students as "pawns," and that they'd come unprepared to contract negotiation meetings.

"We are very disappointed that the teachers have chosen to use the students as pawns in negotiations. While we personally support and respect the teachers in our District, refusing to support student’s activities as a stand for a 'better' contract is simply wrong. The community, parents, and students have to come to expect and should continue to expect that the excellent education our children receive is not dependent upon whether their teachers are content with the status of negotiations," the Board said in a statement.

This comes several months after teachers began a "work action," in which they do not work outside of their contract hours. his affects things like unpaid club advisors, and after and before school help. Coaching, which is a paid position, is not affected.

The heart of the contract stalemate is health insurance premiums. All New Jersey teachers are required by law to pay into their insurance premiums under Chapter 78. According to the Board, teachers would see "significant Chapter 78 relief" if they enrolled in a health plan that "is already in effect in the District and in which many of the Association's members are currently enrolled." Teachers who choose a more expensive health plan would receive less Chapter 78 relief, the Board says.

According to the PTHEA, the Board's suggestions are lose-lose. Teachers enrolling in the less expensive plan would see increased out-of-pocket health costs, creating an effective reduction in take home pay, while teachers in the more expensive plan would actually receive smaller paychecks, the PTHEA said.

In a statement issued last week, the Board said it would be impossible and irresponsible to bring teacher's net pay back to what it was.

"While the Board has offered significant relief from Chapter 78 contributions, it cannot return to a no-cost contribution toward health insurance premiums. The Board has offered a cap on the percentage contribution which is lower than what many of our most senior staff pay," the Board said. "The Board cannot again cut programs, services, and staff in remedying a cost imposed by the State - not the District. Net pay is not controlled by the Board or the District; it is controlled at the individual level, and the Board proposals give each employee options that can increase their net pay."

The sides have been in negotiations since late January 2018, and the contract expired at the end of June 2018. Teachers will continue to work under the terms of the old contract until a new one is reached.

The PTHEA represents 750 teachers across 14 schools.