Posted on 06/21/2005 6:17:47 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Board to vote on whether to accept rescinded letter today, solicitor says Crestwood teacher negotiations Board to vote on whether to accept rescinded letter today, solicitor says
Union president says letter was misconstrued to imply mass resignation.
WRIGHT TWP. (PA) – The president of the Crestwood Education Association hand delivered a written statement to Superintendent Richard Duffy’s home late Monday night rescinding a June 14 letter in which he said teachers would be “unwilling to work” if a new contract isn’t inked prior to the start of the 2005-2006 school year.
The most recent letter, like the first, was penned by Joseph Chmiola Jr., who serves as the teachers union president. It reads in part, “I am writing to advise you that to the extent the June 14, 2005 letter was construed as a resignation is hereby rescinded.”
School board Solicitor Jack Dean said the board plans to vote today to accept the “rescinded resignation,” and if it is accepted, will not go forward with plans to advertise for new faculty.
“The union recognized, obviously, that their (original) letter has rightfully been construed as a mass resignation and that the board was willing to accept it for how it was written,” Dean said. “This board went eye to eye with the union and the union blinked.”
Reached at home Monday night, Chmiola downplayed his most recent letter, saying it was nothing more than another effort to clarify the message he intended to relay in his June 14 correspondence.
“It’s real simple, basically this letter says the original letter was not a mass resignation, which is what I’ve been saying all along,” Chmiola said. “They keep saying it was a mass resignation and I keep saying it wasn’t. This is just another effort on my part to get that across.”
Chmiola said he was not pressured by union membership to rescind the June 14 letter.
“I wasn’t hearing that at all, in fact those members I talked to about this (second) letter said, ‘Why are you doing that?’ ” said Chmiola.
Chmiola added he simply wanted to cover all bases.
Dean said board members hope Monday’s correspondence represents a breakthrough in what has been an often bitter, 3-year-long battle to reach a new contract with the district’s 160 teachers.
“We hope this is a step toward some progress,” said Dean. “We have a negotiation session set for July 7 and the board, as it has always done, will go into that session in good faith with the fervent hope of reaching an agreement.”
Health care is the biggest issue dividing the two sides, with teachers resisting the board’s effort to institute a healthcare cost-sharing plan.
Chmiola said the union is serious about wanting to negotiate a deal and that his recent letters were intended to convey that message.
TO: Mr. Richard T. Duffy, Superintendent
FROM: Mr. Joseph J. Chmiola, Jr., CEA President
DATE: June 20, 2005
RE: Letter of June 14, 2005
Dear Mr. Duffy:
Pursuant to our June 20, 2005 conversation, I am writing to advise you that to the extent the June 14, 2005 letter that was construed as a resignation is hereby rescinded.
As we discussed, the purpose of the June 14th letter was to ensure that the District and Association meet over the summer on a regular and timely basis to resolve our longstanding contractual dispute. As you are aware, this has become a most serious matter, as we are now 3 1/2 years without a successor agreement.
Again, the June 14th letter was not a letter of resignation from the members of the Crestwood Education Association or myself or any other individual. No one has resigned and no one from the Crestwood Education Association is resigning from their employment with the Crestwood School District.
As we stated in the June 14th letter, we are stressing the importance of the District and Association meeting and negotiating on a regular and timely basis to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Finally, I want to thank you for your call, and for resolving the misunderstanding.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Chmiola, Jr.
CEA President
I say accept the resignation, but allow for the option of hiring back the good teachers at the board's discretion...
The way I read this gibberish is it "rescinds" the way the school board interpreted the union's earlier letter.
What BS.
It is a classic non-apology apology.
The board should tell them to stuff it.
No kidding.
Bust the union.
Texas is a right to work State, so not all teachers are unionized, however, Pennsylvania is all union and they are paid well - our district averaged in the upper 80's for salaries - I wouldn't think a teacher would be willing to take a chance on that kind of salary, but apparently they feel more powerful than they are
It still came from the same mainstream media that slanders our military and blames President Bush for everything.
I don't blame all of society's problems on any one thing, nor do I focus on the negative (I acknowledge both). Liberals do enough of that already.
I would rather see how I can help solve things rather than bicker and complain.
No, I don't think of myself as some kind of high-up person. Quite the opposite. I just keep trying every day to help make a difference in my little corner of the world.
educate their own children in their own ideals
Yes, the Muslims apply that all too much:) Sorry, couldn't resist.
Good catch - it almost hurts to read it.
Are you comparing those who don't like Leftist 'educators' indoctrinating their kids in liberalism to Muslims?
If so, you have a problem.
Whoever decide that public employees should be able to unionize was out of their ever-lovin' minds. It has become a monster. No matter how much money is fed into "public education", it is NEVER enough. 24% of Minnesota's state budget goes to education, and every year the MNEA whines they need more. If the ENTIRE state budget were allocated, it still wouldn't be enough to satisfy these leeches.
I'd love to see public unions busted. We'd find out real quick who was worth their salaries and who isn't. But good luck ever finding a way to do it. The politicians don't have the stones for the fight, and thus the public (us) will continue to be a big fat cash cow for the unions.
Absolutely true.
Thanks,
Hey, I didn't see this article on a thread search. It was printed in the NY Post today. You should read it. I wanted to post it but I have to go to a funeral now.
http://www.nypost.com/commentary/commentary.htm
"BUSH DEFENDS 'HUMANE' GITMO"
By DEBORAH ORIN
WASHINGTON — President Bush yesterday passionately defended the Iraq war and the treatment of terror suspects at Guantanamo, saying America won't call it quits until the "coldblooded killers" terrorizing Iraq are defeated.
Also, the first article I mentioned is a good read too. It is about the liberals taking over the sight of the twin towers.
Same link as above http://www.nypost.com/commentary/commentary.htm
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
WRONG TIME, WRONG PLACE FOR LEFTIES' PC PRATTLE
By ANDREA PEYSER
NEARLY four years after her husband was murdered on 9/11 just because he was American, Loisanne Diehl stood in lower Manhattan, defending her beloved from those who would insist he deserved to die.
This school board is clearly not a patsy board elected primarily with the efforts of the teachers union. Their tough stand on the original letter shows this. They will likely accetpt this new letter though, since a judge would also likely rule that the original statement was ambiguous. I suspect the teachers will not follow this up with any teachers strike though. As a board I would consider any striking teacher at this point as a resignation.
It appears the growth of vouchers and choice is bearing fruit. The teacher's union will collapse just the dimwit party.
Hope a teacher in the district doesn't see your post ..You spelled superintendent wrong !!
I believe teacher strikes are legal in Pennsylvania ( used to be ) for a certain period of time .
Haha, did I? Sorry, I was in a hurry this morning - that is no excuse though - I should have been more careful. Thanks for pointing out my error, and I do mean that.....
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