BREA Concessions

The Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association voted yesterday on a proposed $1.4 million of concessions that would help to save some jobs and programs. Obviously, this won’t be sufficient to offset all of the anticipated state aid that was built into the original Bridgewater and Raritan Schools budget proposed in December, 2009, for the new school year beginning July 1st, 2010.

If the BREA membership has voted in favor of the $1.4M of give-backs, its impact will be folded into the final budget of the B-R BOE on Wednesday.

You may recall that, on March 23rd, according to Board President Jeffrey Brookner, the B-R BOE had projected saving “over $3 million worth of teacher jobs in exchange for givebacks worth approximately $1.7 million.”

That offer was not presented to the BREA membership. Instead, the association leadership returned to the table with a counteroffer of $1.4M in givebacks, in exchange for a like amount of job and program savings by the B-R BOE.

The original Board offer of March 23rd had asked for “the union to forgo $403,000 worth of tuition reimbursements,” and to “reduce its scheduled raise from 4.35% to 2%” beginning on July 1.

How probable is it that the BREA’s counter-offer of $1.4M in give-backs will include a lowering of its scheduled 4.35% hike to 2%? Very unlikely.

Remember, the unions for the principals and the supervisors – the BRPA & the BRSA – had declined to freeze or to reduce their salaries. Their offer which was accepted by the B-R BOE was to pay 1.5% for their health benefits and to forego a small amount of other benefits similar to tuition reimbursements.

The BREA, if it voted to accept the $1.4M in give-backs, is likely to mirror the principals’ and supervisors’ lead and to propose a giveback of tuition reimbursements combined with an offer to pay a portion of their health benefits. Just like the other groups.