Schools

NSB Explains Decision Not to Negotiate this Weekend

Neshaminy School Board President addressed why the school board chose to not hold further talks with the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers this weekend.

By Nicole Jenet
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June 1, 2012

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The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers, after Thursday night's failed negotiation session,have decided to go forward with a strike Monday, June 4.

In the press release the NFT issued following the meeting, union President Louise Boyd stated that the impending strike could have been averted if the school board would have agreed to negotiate throughout the weekend.

Neshaminy School Board President Ritchie Webb said Friday that while the union suggested meeting to negotiate this weekend, they did not specify that the union would not go on strike should the board agree to do so.

"At that point, their offer for weekend talks seemed more like an attempt at going through the motions than it did to offer any hope of progress," Webb said in a press release.

VIDEO: Neshaminy Community Protests Second Strike

According to Webb, the key to resolving the contract impasse is thorough understanding and acceptance of the numbers in addition to a "dispassionate" discussion on what is affordable.

"Based on the behavior we witnessed last night with the NFT’s negotiation team, none of these elements are present," he stated.

In the negotiation meeting Thursday night, Webb claims that the school board responded to the mediator with "fact and civility," while the NFT responded with "insults, innuendo, and useless platitudes."

Webb also said that the union's attorney Tom Jennings, "went on a 15 minute rant where he raised his voice repeatedly, hurling accusations at the board" as well as accusing the school board of being more concerned with "fixing leaky roofs" instead of paying the teachers.

VIDEO: NFT President Explains Teachers' Second Strike

"It was very clear to me as well as the other board members that the NFT mindset we witnessed last night would still be present this weekend, and any discussions we had would be no more successful than the last 39 occasions," Webb said, adding that the NFT needs a "cooling off period so they can approach these negotiations more rationally and methodically."

Webb reiterated that the school board is willing to meet with the NFT to resolve this impasse "provided that they are willing to do the hard work of understanding the math."

"However, I have no interest in spending time with NFT representatives whose sole arguments are based on emotion, teacher entitlement, and voodoo economics," he said.

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Anne

4:58 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012

I am a certified teacher and have been unable to obtain a teaching position so I work as a teachers aid. I chose to do this for the experience, because I love teaching children, and I also thought experience in a district would enable me to obtain a teaching job. I work for minimum wage...but stick with it because I love teaching. My questions are:
1. Will the teachers who strike be re-hired for the 2012-2013 school year?
2. If so, why and what will it take for the NSD to let the many underemployed or unemployed teachers have a chance at turning this district around?

I would be thrilled to work for what the NSB has offered! But I have a feeling that in the end all of these striking teachers will be teaching again in the fall...still complaining and unhappy...while teachers like myself who view teaching as a vocation and not just a job will need to decide if they can "hold on" and wait to find an "in" while making minimum wage at aid jobs.

robert

8:35 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012

Anne...you need to get together with fellow like minded teachers, and look into a "discrimination suit against the Nft, the township, and the county, and the State...You have a case. There is nothing that says you can"t teach...if you are not in their Union...(provided you meet the educational and teaching certifications)...No one seems to get this point.....It is a form of discrimination and racketeering.....look it up....and when a lawsuit goes forward..the law has the power of subpeona to look at the NFT's books...The PFT' books, and The AFL-CIO's books for audit....trust me ...non of those organizations want their books audited in open court...it falls under the RICO laws...and they are walking a fine line...they just need a push.

Linda Sheridan

5:06 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012

Amen, Anne. In a perfect world the 2/3 who voted Boyd BACK in could be terminated. So many good, REAL teachers waiting for jobs. I also would be thrilled to accept the school board's offer. Neshaminy is top-heavy- those who voted for Boyd want that big pay-out (27,500.00)and are happy to work under the present contract getting top wages and not paying for their cadillac benefits. Harrisburg is OWNED by the union- they pay into their campaigns- both GOP and Dems. It is horrible. Our good teachers are vandalized by the union thugs and no one helps. The diatribes of the NFT are rubbish. Other districts have settled and taken cuts, etc. The Boyd-ers are a disgrace to the teaching profession. They will reap what they sow sometime in their lives. I am proud of those who tried to vote the greedy Boyd-ers out. God Bless Ritchie Webb and our school board.

Will The Thrill

10:46 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012

Well said Anne & Linda. Sounds to me like the teachers are fine skating by with the current contract and cadillac benefits! My only disappointment with the NSB is that they have not played the Reagan/Air Traffic Controler card and fired the strikers. Plenty of quality teachers out there to fill the positions!!!

robert

8:30 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012

yep....The Nft is no longer serving the needs of the community or the schools. The contract should be revoked. There is NO LAW that says Teachers must be in a UNion to teach in Pa....a lot of red tape disguising this fact....but the children must receive a certain amount of hours...it does not say who teaches them..(accept that they be "certified" by the State)...and that doesn't mean Union only.
Dismiss them....let them re-apply...take a drug test....a background test....and any felonies..or criminal prosecutions...weed them out...Geee I guess they would lose their "representative" in the first wave.

Linda Sheridan

11:20 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012

I would think if the school board had the power to do the Reagan air traffic controller deal, they would have done it in a nanosecond. God bless the NSB and the real teachers
Who tried to oust this regime!! Was at drama improv at the high school led by a real teacher, loved by all of her students!! Godspeed to the good guys!

Feodor Tiorlenko

8:38 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012

Exercises in imbecility.

Shake the dust off your feet and leave these dolts to their own device.

Charles McCarthy

11:04 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012

Let a smart team of taxpayers solve this...enough of these games. Both sides need to be held accountable for this childish drama.

feasterville resident

11:11 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012

Stand strong NSB, parents and taxpayers will back you 100%. I have spoken to a few Neshaminy teachers who are repulsed by Boyd. They can not speak-up because they will be shunned. Boyd and the NFT with their bullying tactics. Professionals???????

FRANK LEWIS

6:38 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012

maybe we need to bring back the BRUTE SQUAD to protect those who are being bullied, I 'm up for kicking some NFT ass!!!!! Turn the tables on those lunkheads!!!

Linda Sheridan

11:30 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012

The NSB is not childish at all. They are the first school board to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and do not want to cut programs for the students to enable the greedy Boyd-ers to get more and more and more. NSB is offering what we can afford. Too bad the Boyd-ers were so greedy and foolish not to accept the original offer 5 yrs ago like my Brother, David Ferrara and other non-Boyders urged them to do. They are really hurting the young teachers and protecting themselves at the top of the pay scale & the "teachers" ready to retire with that big "bonus". The Boyd-ers only want to settle if they get every thing and more OR retain the current contract. Insurance premiums increase every yr and they need to pay the percentage of premium, not a flat rate. Greed is running thru their veins & they constantly rant and double-talk. They should all go work for their real bosses, the Teamsters and we can hire some real teachers!

robert

8:24 am on Sunday, June 3, 2012

we need to have a "radical" approach to a Union that has the card and contracts stacked in their favor....On day 10 of their strike...notify Ms. Boyd, that the "services" of the NFT are no longer needed. Union "jurisdictition" on teaching in the state of pennsylvania is not a given. Harrisburg knows this, and everyone else knows this.
We need to put a referendum to a vote whether we continue to want the NFT...or we as individual taxpayers can start a class action suit to sue for school vouchers,...All radical, I know. Everyone is scared of the lawyers and law suits...so what..It would be cheaper to take the hit..dismiss the union for not serving the needs of the community and the school district..and open shop the work. There is no "right" or law that states that you must be a member of a Union to teach in the State of Pennsylvania....try it....it will shake the foundation of the NFT....grow a pair of cojones..and pull the trigger....worst case scenario...next year...while the Boyders sit out and wait for litigation...the "scab" teachers can come in and teach...what a good time to show the improvement...and again knock the legs out of the NFT.. The law states that children have to have a certain amount of hours....it does not State who will be teaching those hours.