BREA President Offers his Views on Contract Negotiations

Left to right:  Messrs. Beatty & Dohenny, BREA; Lynne Hurley

Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Steve Beatty, President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association returned my call from the previous day. 

During that conversation we discussed the current status of negotiations between the union which he represents (BREA),  and the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education, which is expected to take up the BREA’S latest response at a closed session meeting on May 17^th.

Those of you who regularly follow this blog are aware that I have previously asked both parties what the offers and counter-offers have been, hoping that this information could be passed on to you, the public and union members, while discussions are still in progress.

Mr. Beatty indicated that the Association wants to do “what is fair and right.”  He explained that the reason both parties “have chosen to be more tight-lipped” is to ensure “better success” in negotiations.  He added that “we both see value in keeping (negotiations) private.” 

In a brief clarification discussion this afternoon, Mr. Beatty confirmed that “neither side is releasing specific details of the proposal” publicly at this time.

During yesterday’s discussion, he underscored that “the public has chosen their representatives, and so has the Association.”  Upon further questioning, he acknowledged that although there is “no binding language or rules” for this practice “all agree that (there is) better success, if we keep this close to the vest.” 

Board members Anda Citroen, Ann Marie Mead, & Arvind Mathur.

“We gave the Board a fair offer that puts the kids first, and we are awaiting their reply.”

Another facet of these discussions, according to Mr. Beatty, is that the Board seems to have changed the process of these negotiations by hiring a professional negotiator, instead of what was a prior “win-win” method of discussions whereby representatives of the Board and the BREA entered into direct talks with one another.

Mr. Beatty confirmed what he had previously expressed to me at the end of the May 3^rd reorganization meeting:  “We have our lawyers and they have theirs.” “It’s somewhat out-of-hand . . . it has definitely slowed (the process) because of the people in the middle.”

Although the BREA also has its own legal representation in these talks, he added “It was the Board’s decision to move away from the speedier ‘win-win’ method of negotiation . . . purely their choice.”

Beatty reiterated that the BREA’s response to the Board of Education’s offer “is fair, and we hope they will approve it” when they meet on Tuesday, May 17^th, in closed execution session.

Thanks for reading and have a good weekend.