Details of Rejected T/E Teacher Pact Revealed

It could have been the final agreement between the T/E School District and its teachers, and there is a possibility (though it appears unlikely) it could still be the new contract. A Pennsylvania Fact Finder's report was released Friday afternoon containing specifics of a deal outlined by the State Fact Finder who took the arguments of both sides into consideration.

While not an a binding arbitration, the Fact Finder serves a similar role. When contract talks reached an impasse in June the teachers union requested the fact finder.  Either side could have made the request.

The T/E School Board voted Thursday night to reject the state Fact Finder's recommendations for new teacher contract.  The Fact Finder's report is is an "all or nothing" proposition which both the union and the school board would have to agree to in total for it to become binding.

The Tredyffrin-Easttown Education Associtation (TEAA) voted to approve the proposal. The school board voted against it.  Neither side was permitted to comment or release any details of the report until both the TEAA and the union had a chance to vote on it.

Now that both sides have voted, the report is being made public.

Members of the public will have a chance to comment on the report before the School Board takes another vote. If, after getting public comment, the School Board votes to accept it, the Fact Finder's report would be the terms of the new contract.

Among the provisions of the report:

Salary:

a) For School Year 2012-2013 each employee’s salary will be frozen at the level at which they were at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 Contract Year.

(Salary Scale is attached as Appendix A)

b) For School Year 2013-2014; (i) for the first one-half of the school year each employee’s salary will continue to be frozen at the level at which they were at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 Contract Year and (ii) for the second half of the school year there will be column and step movement throughout the salary schedule, and those bargaining unit members at the top of their respective columns will receive a one-time, off-scale bonus payment of $300.00.

Healthcare/Insurance:

The District will offer as its core health plan Blue Cross Personal Choice C4-F4- 02, or its substantial equivalent, with individual, individual plus spouse, individual plus children and family options, (which may include self insurance), and the District will pay 95% of the premiums for such coverage and participating employees will pay 5% of premiums through payroll deduction.

As an option to the core plan, the District will offer bargaining unit members the Personal Choice C2 F2-02 health plan with individual, individual plus spouse, individual plus children and family options, (which may include self insurance), and the District will pay 92% of the premiums for such coverage and participating employees will pay 8% of premiums through payroll deduction.
Under either option selected, prescription coverage will be offered at 12/35/50: $12 retail generic; $35 retail formulary preferred brand; $50 retail non-preferred brand and a 5% copay for specialty drugs up to an annual maximum of $2500 individual / $5000 family.

Year Two

The District will offer as its core health plan Blue Cross Personal Choice C4-F4- 02, or its substantial equivalent, with individual, individual plus spouse, individual plus children and family options, (which may include self insurance), and the District will pay 94% of the premiums for such coverage and participating employees will pay 6% of premiums through payroll deduction.
As an option to the core plan, the District will offer bargaining unit members the Personal Choice C2 F2-02 health plan with individual, individual plus spouse, individual plus children and family options, (which may include self insurance), and the District will pay 90% of the premiums for such coverage and participating employees will pay 10% of premiums through payroll deduction.
Under either option selected, prescription coverage will be offered at 12/35/50: $12 retail generic; $35 retail formulary preferred brand; $50 retail non-preferred brand and a 5% copay for specialty drugs up to an annual maximum of $2500 individual / $5000 family.

Benefit Program Booklet
The Employer agrees to provide all employees a current health benefit program booklet, which may be provided in electronic form, describing the specifics of the medical insurance program as soon as the booklet is received from the carrier or administrator in printed form.
Effective Date of Changes
2013.
The effective date of the first year implementation of changes will be January 1,
Other Insurance Coverage Dental and Vision

I recommend no change to the Agreement.
5
Life and Disability

I recommend the parties change the language in the existing Group Life Insurance and Disability Insurance provisions of the Agreement by removing the reverences therein to “to age 70.”

There are 17 more areas of the contract included in detail in the report which is avaialble by clicking the pdf file.