To: All Asbury Park Education Association Members
From: APEA Negotiations Team
Date: March 30, 2010
Re: Negotiations
The APEA Negotiations Team has a meeting scheduled for May 12, 2010, with the fact finder to begin the next process of our contract talks. In an effort to obtain a contract without going through the long and arduous process of fact finding, our team has since met with the Board to try to mediate a resolution to these stalled contract talks.
To begin, we met on Wednesday, March 10 and Monday, March 22, 2010. These discussions lasted over 4 hours and 2 hours respectively. We have managed to cut down the amount of issues that separate our two teams. Our team met last week to discuss several options that we have as an Association.
With the recent headlines from the newly elected governor, he is requesting that ALL local associations take a pay freeze for the 2010/2011 school year. With that in mind, once the budget talks are finished at the Board of Education level, our team will be making a decision on what avenue to approach. Our latest talks were amicable and we are keeping all options open.
In closing, keep in mind, that our team will only present the most viable and equitable contract to our membership. Our goal is to settle this contract before the end of the school year. However, our main focus at this time is going to be the BOE budget and the potential 80 layoffs within our district. Our main concern is to see to it that everyone has the proper information in to the Board and that the RIF is done in accordance with 18a. We have already been assigned an attorney through NJEA to assist our leadership with the numerous issues we see with this RIF and the company handling the seniority lists.
PLEASE WEAR BLACK ON WEDNESDAY IN TO SHOW SOLIDARITY. REMEMBER THE
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: 2:45PM AND THE BOE MEETING: 6:00PM.
Pc: Michael Zajac, Recording Secretary