Optimism Wanes as Hopes of a Contract Settlement dim and as Union Calls for Pressure on Board

As was reported in this blog on May 22nd, it then appeared that negotiators for the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education (BR-BOE) and for its teachers, the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association (BREA) were capitalizing on the optimism prevalent at the time that an accord might be near. 

A large contingent of members from the Bridgewater-
Raritan Education Association crowds into the conference
room at the Wade Administration Building and spills
out into the corridor on May 22nd.  (Bergeron Image)

However, during a conversation on Friday afternoon, in a follow-up call to BR-BOE President, Evan Lerner, I asked if that shared optimism might translate into an accord that would be presented to the full board and the public at tomorrow night’s BR-BOE meeting at the High School on Garretson Road.

Won’t happen. 

Still frustrating to everyone involved, including the public, resolution to this long-standing contract stalemate remains in limbo.

It should be noted that, at the May 22^nd board meeting, BREA President, Mr. Steve Beatty informed me that, at the request of the board’s negotiators, the BREA had entered into a non-disclosure agreement with the board.  Mr. Lerner confirmed this as well that evening.

Since the two parties were in the middle of ongoing private discussions outside the context of the formal mediation process, both hoped that an accord might be reached before the resumption of the next mediation session. 

Sue Rogalski, President of the Hamilton Primary
School PTO addresses the BR-BOE.  (Bergeron Image)

Neither the board nor the union wished to have egg on their faces as the result of having prematurely released negotiation data to the public, yet not having a deal to show for it.  As the board president summarized it, “We want to negotiate freely,” continuing that he did not want to “shoot myself in the foot.”

On Friday, Mr. Lerner went on to say that “nobody wants to disadvantage themselves” in the negotiation process, and that “neither party wants to be permitted to [formally and publicly] introduce an offer that’s not [already] on the table.”   

The board’s current formal position is available on its website.  It does not reflect any other offers which may have been presented during the subsequent informal talks.

Despite this recent setback, Lerner underscored that he “would really like to get it resolved before the next fact-finding session” which is scheduled for the third week in July.

I also called BREA President, Mr. Steve Beatty on Friday to obtain his view of the current status on behalf of the BREA, but my call was not returned at the time of this post, and he may not have been available.  However, I was able to obtain the copy of an e-mail released by him on June 3^rd to his constituency.

In it, Mr. Beatty indicates that “Unless things change unexpectedly, it looks like we will now have to wait for the fact finder to step in, ensuring no settlement in the near future . . . Now the date [for the next mediation session] is set for July 21.”

Jolee Roberts praises the role of teachers at the
May 22nd Board Meeting in Martinsville.
(Bergeron Image)

Expressing dismay, he adds that “I will briefly say that both Joe [referring to Mr. Krenetsky who is on the BREA negotiating team] and I are gravely confused as to why, after two positive meetings, where it seemed that clear plans were in place that would have had both sides work collaboratively on a deal, that the board, and in particular its’ president, are now balking.”

Mr. Beatty writes that “It’s time to increase our pressure on the board . . . we’ve had the crowds . . . we’ve had over 350 people at each of the last three meetings . . . we now need to do it one more time . . . at the next boe meeting . . . Tuesday, June 12^th, 8pm in the High School cafeteria . . . with an even bigger crowd and more speakers.”

Expressing the desire for more support, he added, “We also need more community members to come and speak. Please do all you can to find someone (not a member) to come out and support us. This is truly the most valuable resource, as they continue to write off member-resident opinions . . . The board can be moved, but it will take a great effort . . . Time to rally.”

Thanks for reading – stay balanced.

(Click on any image for an enhanced view.)