Grading the Crisis
This is a serious situation, the Union president told the newspaper. Everybody made a concerted effort to change the equation this year (from the grim past). We told the District, We dont really want to go to war every year. We want to go to war when we have to. Lets get this thing done, and lets the not have a distraction. Which happened.
I would not say any skullduggery was involved. Just that, mistakes were made, he said, stringing out the last three words, theatrically and smilingly, for maximum impact.
Impossible, He Said
Somehow, in the Districts budget revision process, which is ongoing, the numbers got revised upward, sig-nig-i-cant-ly.
That is like another 2 percent raise for us.
It just is not possible that on the Friday we ratified contract they did not know about the money that was announced at the Board meeting the following Tuesday. Not possible.
Tilted Conditions
The problem is, you have the classified (employees) union now bargaining over a larger pot of money than we were able to bargain over. And the management group, bargaining over a larger pot of money. This is against the law.
The ebullient Mr. Mielke being challenged for the highest Union office this spring for the first time in 19 years scolded Supt. Dr. Myrna Cote and the School Board for ignoring his recent inquiry about the curiously timed discovery.
Death Bed Looms
Even though the previously contentious negotiating environment morphed into tongue-trilling tranquility after Ms. Cote arrived in January, the president said, labor peace unexpectedly appears to be back on life support,
The suddenly-found money, he said, needs to be explained because the law may have been violated. Unless he receives a response by today or Thursday, Mr. Mielke said, he will file an unfair labor charge.
His argument was packaged cogently and economically.
Easy vs. Hard
The laws that govern collective bargaining say that districts need to share financial information with employee bargaining teams, the Union president said.
Two weeks ago, I said there is an easy way to solve this and a hard way. The easy way is, you call us up and say You know what? More money showed up. We didnt share it with you. Lets go back to the table and see if some of it can be shared with you. The hard way is that we file an unfair labor practice charge, accuse you of bad faith bargaining.
The new direction we are headed on, with a new Superintendent who wants to work collaboratively, that hopeful new process will get derailed.
A Dove Flies
Then the Union president uncorked a dove of peace from his cupped palms.
After noting he had met with the Superintendent, Mr. Mielke said, The Union is doing everything we can to find a solution that is not contentious.
If the Super and the Board maintain their present vow of silence, he warned, that pushes us into a corner. Then the only thing we can do is file an unfair, and go to the press. Bad faith bargaining. They had the money, and they didnt share it with us.
A Deadline
Mr. Mielke declared a deadline. You are going to need to call me up in the next day or two. Otherwise, this paperwork gets filed.
The Union president has been tapping his feet for weeks, he said, just as he did in what he characterized as the bad old days under the previous Superintendent.
Neither the new Superintendent nor the School Board appeared fazed by Mr. Mielkes challenge, which all of them have heard before.
Predictable Behavior
No sightings of District officials were reported this morning at the mailbox closest to District headquarters on Irving Place.
Both sides are living up to their traditional behavioral patterns. The School District remains officially tight-lipped, the Union loquacious.
A Five-Day Delay
The District office did report that David El Fattal, the Assistant Superintendent in charge of finances, will be busy in meetings until Monday.
Another District officer who was on his way to a meeting told the newspaper that the freshly found $500,000 is one-time money. The bulk is reimbursement from Workmens Comp, and I think it is going to stay right here. It seems to me it would be a breach of fiscal responsibility to share that money with the Union.
Money Isnt Moving?
A mid-level District employee said, confidently, The teachers contract has been signed, sealed and delivered.
This years bargaining sessions were a bowl of strawberries compared to the past, Mr. Mielke noted.
We started early, we finished early, nobody even knew we were negotiating, he said. But then there was a curve ball that has threatened the new direction we are on.
Four Days of Peace
Four days after we ratified our agreement if this speech sounds familiar, it is the exact same speech I gave two weeks ago, at the last School Board meeting.
Four days later, the District published its second Interim Financial Report that showed the $500,000.
