Schools
WCASD and Teachers Move Closer to Fact Finding in Contract Dispute
It's the latest step in an effort to settle a contract that expired more than a year ago.
The West Chester Area School District and its teachers union are one step closer to a move that could end the district's 13-month-long teacher contract impasse.
According to the WCASD, the two sides formally filed for fact finding with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB). It is a move that both sides previously announced they would take. The PLRB will now appoint a fact-finder from a list of pre-approved names. That fact finder will then take testimony from both sides and offer a compromise contract.
If both sides agree to the compromise offered in the fact finder's report, it will become the contract. If either the school board or the union do not agree with the report, the contract talks go back to the negotiating table.
The impasse between the union and the board has occurred after more than a year of contract negotiations has compelled both sides to seek assistance through a third party intermediary.
Under the timeline described by the district a new contract will not be in place by the start of the new school year this fall.
Here's the schedule to expect, as outlined by the school district:
- A Fact Finder will be selected from a preapproved list maintained by the PLRB at an upcoming meeting within the next 30 days.
- Following the selection, the PLRB will notify the District with the name of the individual who has been appointed Fact Finder.
- Within 40 calendar days of the filing, the Fact Finder must schedule a private hearing to allow both sides to present the facts in the dispute that each believes are pertinent.
- The Fact Finder has 40 calendar days from the date of the filing to render a written decision on the outstanding issues in dispute.
- The facts will be presented by both sides in the private hearing, during which the Fact Finder will listen to demographic information submitted by the District and demographic information submitted by PSEA through the PSEA Research Division in Harrisburg.
Based on a 40 day timetable the Fact Finder’s report is expected to be issued sometime in September or October 2013.
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Here's the "Fine Print" on How the Fact Finding Process Works:
Once the Fact Finder’s report is in hand, both sides will have ten days to review the findings. If both the School Board and the Teacher’s Association accept the Fact Finder’s report, the parties will have a binding contract which will later be memorialized in writing. If either side rejects the report, an additional ten day period is called for to allow each party to review and reconsider their decision. If, after the ten day reconsideration period, either party rejects the report then the Fact Finding process will be over.
Find out what's happening in West Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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