Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Gov. Corbett's pension plan, both sides say, may offer a way forward.
It’s looking increasingly like the contract squabble between the West Chester Area School District and its teachers union won’t be resolved until an even thornier debate is settled 80 miles west. The school board and the West Chester Area Education Association have delayed their next negotiation session and have yet to schedule a new one, according to the Daily Local News. Both sides say that Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to reform pensions for teachers and state workers will have a large influence on the negotiations when they resume. “If the governor is successful in his effort to modify the existing pension legislation and essentially freeze existing employees under the old system, the district’s cost to fund the Public School Employee …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Here's is the full statement read by board president Vincent Murphy at Monday's meeting on the on-going teacher negotiations.
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Friday, November 30, 2012
The following is a statement from West Chester School Board president Vince Murphy about the on-going teacher negotiations. I have always believed that much can be accomplished if an individual or an organization is armed with information and optimism. Perhaps that is why I am looking toward the next negotiation session, slated for November 29th, with a glimmer of hope that progress can occur. You see, earlier this month the West Chester Area School Board held an informational session for the West Chester Area Education Association to provide clarity on the health care benefit plan it has proposed to the teacher’s union. The School Board has proposed Personal Choice 320 – a PPO which provides members freedom to use their own doctors and …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
West Chester School Board President Vincent Murphy says he is optimistic heading into Thursday's negotiation session.
West Chester School Board President Vince Murphy said he remains optimistic as the teachers’ union and the school board head into another round of negotiations on Thursday, Nov. 29. “As we look ahead toward Thursday night’s negotiation session, it is our sincere hope that the information gleaned from the informational session will enable the WCEA to move forward with a negotiation session that is focused and productive,” Murphy said in a statement read at Monday’s school board meeting. In early November, the school board and the union held a jointly prepared session that was intended to educate staff on proposed changes to the teachers’ healthcare plan. Murphy said, “The format of the meeting offered an informal and interactive setting for…
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Both sides call upon the other side to compromise at Monday's school board meeting.
West Chester School Board President Vince Murphy read a statement at Monday’s school board meeting calling upon the teachers union to negotiate and compromise as both sides continue to work towards a new contract. “It is high time that the West Chester Area School District be the next noteworthy example of a fiscally responsible contract achieved through compromise,” Murphy said. Murphy pointed to the recently agreed upon contact in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District. The teachers and board there agreed to a two-year deal that calls for a $2,500 nonrecurring bonus for each bargaining unit member over the course of two years. “Does this sound familiar?” Murphy asked. “It should. It is the same compensation proposal which our school …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
A new statement from the West Chester School Board says $6.2 million divides the two sides.
The following is a press release from the West Chester Area School Board. Optimism turned to disappointment this week when the West Chester Area School Board Negotiating Team evaluated the newest proposal submitted by the West Chester Area Education Association and saw that it represented a $6.2 million gap between what the District and the union were seeking in the next contract. The union’s newest two-year proposal – the first formal proposal it has submitted since March – includes the following: Salary Increases Benefit Changes Additionally, the proposal calls for the District to seek no penalties against the Union if they decide to go out on strike. According to District calculations, the union’s newest proposal will cost the …
Monday, September 3, 2012
The West Chester Area Education Association release the details of the proposal rejected by the school board most recently.
The West Chester Area Education Association release the details of the proposal rejected by the school board most recently. The following information comes from the Education Association's website. The proposal from the union contains the following items: 1. Include Domestic Partners in the medical coverage. 2 .Increase premium share for health care plan from 10% to 12% in the second year. 3. Increase the retiree’s Health Retirement Accountant for members hired after 2003 from $20,000 to $35,000. 4. No change to any current retiree health benefits. 5. Reduced tuition reimbursement after Masters from 90% to 40%. 6. Increase supplementals (which have been frozen since 2009) by 2%. 7. Wage increase: a. 1st year: step and column movement half-…
Friday, August 31, 2012
The West Chester Area Education Association says its disappointed by a lack of progress in negotiation talks.
- SCHOOLS
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Friday, August 31, 2012
The following is a press release from the West Chester Area Education Association. The West Chester Area Education Association (WCAEA) said today that a deal had not been reached with the West Chester Area School District regarding a new contract. At the latest negotiation session held Wednesday, Aug. 29 between members of the WCAEA negotiation team and the school district, the teachers’ union submitted a two-year proposal but it was rejected by the school district. “We are disappointed that there has been no movement on the part of the school district during the negotiation process,” WCAEA President Debbie Fell said. “We made a number of adjustments to the contract regarding tuition reimbursement, healthcare and changes in salary …
Thursday, August 30, 2012
West Chester School Board President Vince Murphy says that both sides still remain at odds while negotiating the new teachers' contract.
The following is a statement released by West Chester School Board President Vince Murphy. On Wednesday, Aug. 29, the West Chester Area School Board Negotiating Committee met with the West Chester Area Education Association (WCAEA) for a two-hour negotiation session. The union presented the school board with an updated proposal during that meeting. Our business office is in the process of calculating the full cost of the union's two-year proposal. The latest offer from the union leadership does not come close to meeting the board's financial objectives and would result in tax increases well above the Act 1 Index. We are still far apart on salary, benefits and work rules. The board offered a fair and reasonable proposal. Our proposal was …
Friday, August 10, 2012
The West Chester Area Education Association released a statement that says contract negotiations will continue on August 16.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, August 10, 2012
The following is a press release from the West Chester Area Education Association. The West Chester Area Education Association (WCAEA) met today with representatives of the West Chester Area School District regarding contract negotiations. While no deal has been finalized, WCAEA President Debbie Fell said the teacher’s union and the school district have agreed to continue talks and have scheduled the next negotiation session for Thursday, August 16. “We agreed to continue to meet in order to come to a fair and equitable resolution for everyone involved,” Fell said. “The WCAEA is dedicated to providing an excellent education for our children, and we are willing to meet as often as needed so we may come to an agreement before the new school …
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The West Chester Education Association and the West Chester School Board will sit down again on August 9 to continue contract negotiations.
The West Chester teachers’ union and the West Chester Area School Board will hold another round of contract negotiations on August 9, as both sides feel the pressure of the upcoming school year. “We’re hopeful,” said West Chester Education Association president Debbie Fell. We’re working hard, and we’re hopeful.” The meeting on August 9 will be the first time the two sides have met since June 28, and in a statement released last month Fell said: “The WCAEA is willing and eager to continue negotiations with the district, but we’re essentially at a standstill. By the time we’re negotiating again, the new school year will be less than a month away.” Both sides seem to be at an impasse publicly when it comes to how the district and the …
Cathy Binder
5:45 am on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
This board is a bit disingenuous in their allegations. While I appreciate the issue with the pensions and agree it is a serious consideration there is much more going on here. At the recent board meeting they managed to increase the salaries of some administrators by as much as $10,000 a year. Is there any talk of their health insurance coverage being changed or reduced as well? If money is such … more ›