Representatives of both the teachers’ union, Princeton Regional Education Association (PREA) and the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) failed to reach agreement when they met for a “bargaining session” last Thursday, October 2. The meeting was brought to a halt when members of the PREA negotiating team walked out.

“Tonight’s bargaining session lasted less than an hour. The Board refused to put a counter proposal on the table,” said PREA Chief Negotiator John Baxter and PREA President Joanne Ryan in a statement to Town Topics following the meeting.

“The parties reached a point where it seemed that further discussion was not leading to progress, and PREA terminated the meeting,” stated BOE representative Patrick Sullivan in a similar summation of the Board’s position. “The issues in this negotiation come down to salary and benefits, but the real issue from the Board’s point of view is the sustainability of the quality education we provide to our students,” said Mr. Sullivan.

The meeting was one of two scheduled by both sides in advance of mediation sessions with Kathy Vogt, Esq., a state-appointed mediator who has been called in to help forge a new contract for Princeton’s teachers.

Talks with Ms. Vogt are due to take place on November 20. “Ms. Vogt was the mediator during contract negations for the 2011-14 contract,” said BOE Secretary Stephanie Kennedy. That contract expired June 30, but continues in operation until the new contract terms and conditions are agreed upon.

While negotiations have stalled repeatedly over the issues of health care and salary increases, the most significant stumbling block to forward movement is a profound disagreement over the intent and impact of NJ law Chapter 78.

According to the PREA statement, “The Board has now refused to move for two consecutive meetings, despite significant movement by the association. There is no evidence that the extraordinary attendance and comments at the public meeting last week had any impact, other than to increase the Board’s obstinance. They continue to maintain their position on Chapter 78 and refuse to bargain premium contributions for years two and three.”

Not only that, the statement goes on, “[The Board] refused to make a counter offer on salary.” and “has not increased its 1.8 percent salary offer since April.”

From the perspective of the teachers’ union, the Board is insisting that “PREA members accept lower health care benefits to fund any additional salary increase above the 1.8 percent offer,” even though “PREA members have already saved the Board $700,000 in premiums this year.”

The crux of the issue is whether premium contributions are subject to collective bargaining under the Chapter 78 law. PREA contends that, after this year, premium contributions are subject to collective bargaining. In support of their position, they cite 12 other New Jersey school boards that have negotiated new rates for years two and three of a new three-year contract. As far as the union is concerned, the Board is failing to comply with NJ State law and using “highly questionable interpretations of the statute, in order to get something for nothing.”

But, according to a BOE statement provided by Mr. Sullivan, increases in healthcare costs have been “imposed by State Law Chapter 78” and the union’s demands are “simply unaffordable.”

“The PREA’s current proposal for salary increases and healthcare givebacks is far in excess of the maximum tax raise we could ask taxpayers to pay by law under the 2 percent cap on tax increases. As fiduciaries for the children and for this community, we cannot pay what they are asking us to give.”

To do so, the statement goes on, would “jeopardize” the quality of Princeton’s education and lead to cuts in programs and teachers, and to increases in class sizes. Any agreement would “involve looking at salary increases coupled with health plans that save money for BOTH sides, and we cannot negotiate salary in isolation to health benefits.”

From the perspective of the BOE, the teachers’ union is asking for a “counter-proposal” on salary only, “while refusing to propose any benefit plan other than the status quo, or to discuss any of the Board’s offers on health benefit plans that would save both sides money.”

A second bargaining session is due to take place October 22.

“We hope to arrive at a solution, but in order to do that, both sides need to work together and work within the confines of what is prudent, sustainable, and best for our children and our taxpayers,” said Mr. Sullivan.

Mediator services are provided by the state at no cost to the district, but if no agreement is reached in mediation, a fact-finder would be called in at a cost of $1,500 per day. The cost of a fact-finder would be split between the two parties. According to BOE negotiator Patrick Sullivan, 40 percent of school negotiations in New Jersey go to mediation.

“We are hopeful that Ms. Vogt can assist us in coming to agreement,” said Ms. Kennedy. “As yet, no fact finder has been called upon. That would only occur if the mediator can not get us to a point of agreement.”