Ringgold teachers expected to reject fact-finder’s report again

June 02--When teachers in the Ringgold School District vote for a second time in five days on recommendations for a contract, it is expected to be just a formality of law.

Considering that the Ringgold Education Association overwhelming rejected a fact-finder's recommendation for a contract on Thursday, the union and the district are looking to future negotiations.

Both sides agree that much contract language has been resolved.

But four issues remain: salaries, health care insurance, coaching positions and contract length.

Teachers have been working throughout the school year without a contract. The old pact expired Aug. 31.

The union represents 215 teachers. Under state law, it must vote a second time on the recommendation.

The union requested the fact-finding process April 10.

The school board voted to accept the recommendation May 21, one day after the information was released to the negotiating teams.

Under the system, a neutral third party chosen by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board heard presentations from both sides and made a recommendation for a contract.

The two sides met May 15 before fact-finder Michelle Miller-Kotula in Washington, Pa. She had the freedom to incorporate requests from both sides into her recommendation. Her report became official after the union rejected it.

Fact-finder said

Miller-Kotula recommended salaries for coaching positions remain a part of the contract. The district sought to have them removed, citing that just 25 of 71 such positions are filled by teachers.

The fact-finder recommended a four-year contract, as requested by the union. The district offered a three-year deal.

She recommended a $350 signing bonus per teacher, but no movement among the 19 salary steps for members.

Miller-Kotula recommended raises of 2.6 percent for the 2014-15 school year, followed by hikes of 2.8 percent and 2.5 percent in the ensuing years.

The district had sought a $250 signing bonus for 2013-14 with raises of 2.3 for 2014-15 and 1.46 percent for 2015-16.

The biggest issue appears to be heath care.

The fact-finder's report states that the union offered to accept a second, less rich plan to save the district money.

But the union rejected the district's proposed spousal exclusion.

Under the proposal made by the district, if the spouse of a Ringgold employee has group coverage available elsewhere, either as an active or retired employee, that person would be ineligible to participate in the Ringgold medical benefit program.

The fact-finder's recommendation would have included the spousal exclusion provision, but would have allowed a spouse to join the Ringgold medical plan immediately if he or she lost health care coverage through an employer.

With the end of the school year on the horizon, the impasse is headed into summer, with a second school year without a contract possible.

"We want to give them the best contract we are fiscally able to give them," said school director Bill Stein, the district's chief negotiator.

Stein said he expects the two sides to return to the bargaining table soon.

"They want this done as much as we do," Stein said.

Chris Buckley is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-684-2642 or [email protected].

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