As discussed in the last post, several members of the BREA Negotiations Team and several representatives of the Bridgewater-Raritan School Board agreed to speak with me concerning collective bargaining now underway. The last three-year contract with the BREA ends on June 30th, 2011.
I spoke separately to each group. Mr. Joseph Krenetsky is the Negotiations Chairman for the teachers, as well as for other school district employees represented by the BREA. Mr. Steve Beatty is the union’s President. An excerpt of that interview appears below:
Question: What can you tell me about the status of the labor negotiations with the Bridgewater-Raritan School District?
I spoke separately to each group. Mr. Joseph Krenetsky is the Negotiations Chairman for the teachers, as well as for other school district employees represented by the BREA. Mr. Steve Beatty is the union’s President. An excerpt of that interview appears below:
Question: What can you tell me about the status of the labor negotiations with the Bridgewater-Raritan School District?
Responses: Mr. Krenetsky indicated that we “can’t tell you anything” yet, and that “we are keeping a tight lid on negotiations.” Nonetheless, he went on to explain that “everything is on the table right now . . . we are working with the board so we can work everything out to our mutual benefit.”
Mr. Beatty added that, “We are sitting down with an open mind, with no preconceived notions, or anything.”
Question: Can you give an idea of when you expect the BREA to reach an agreement with the B-R School Board, and how likely is that to happen before the April 27th election, when the school budget goes before the voters?
Responses: Mr. Krenetsky volunteered that it would be “very difficult to predict . . . (if not) impossible to predict,” while Mr. Beatty added, “We are serious; we are ready,” and “we hope that it can be sooner rather than later,” but, “I don’t know (when).”
Mr. Krenetsky followed up with this “is a process.” He was supported by Mr. Beatty: “We will settle when we have a deal.”
Pressed on the timing for reaching an agreement with the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education, Mr. Krenetsky felt that to offer any estimate of timing now would be “speculative.”
Mr. Beatty confirmed that view, adding that it “takes time to go through the paradigm of negotiations,” and that, similar to Mr. Krenetsky’s comment above, he also felt that it would “still (be) speculative” to provide an opinion on the timing for reaching a labor accord with the B-R BOE.
Mr. Beatty summed up with, “It would be great if we could settle by April 27th,” adding that the “school is a major anchor of the community,” and that the labor association is seeking “a fair contract.” No indications were given about what might constitute a fair contract.
Mr. Beatty added that, “We are sitting down with an open mind, with no preconceived notions, or anything.”
Question: Can you give an idea of when you expect the BREA to reach an agreement with the B-R School Board, and how likely is that to happen before the April 27th election, when the school budget goes before the voters?
Responses: Mr. Krenetsky volunteered that it would be “very difficult to predict . . . (if not) impossible to predict,” while Mr. Beatty added, “We are serious; we are ready,” and “we hope that it can be sooner rather than later,” but, “I don’t know (when).”
Mr. Krenetsky followed up with this “is a process.” He was supported by Mr. Beatty: “We will settle when we have a deal.”
Pressed on the timing for reaching an agreement with the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education, Mr. Krenetsky felt that to offer any estimate of timing now would be “speculative.”
Mr. Beatty confirmed that view, adding that it “takes time to go through the paradigm of negotiations,” and that, similar to Mr. Krenetsky’s comment above, he also felt that it would “still (be) speculative” to provide an opinion on the timing for reaching a labor accord with the B-R BOE.
Mr. Beatty summed up with, “It would be great if we could settle by April 27th,” adding that the “school is a major anchor of the community,” and that the labor association is seeking “a fair contract.” No indications were given about what might constitute a fair contract.
Next post: B-R BOE officers offer their viewpoint.
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