Committee to consider contract proposal
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
bucks county technical high school
The state-appointed fact-finder suggests 2.5 percent salary increases for union members who continue their education.
The Bucks County Technical High School joint board committee will Monday consider a fact-finder's recommendation that it approve a new two-year labor contract with the teachers union.
State-appointed fact-finder Francis T. McGrath suggests a two-year deal, as initially proposed by the joint board. The board didn't want a longer term agreement because of current economic conditions. The Bucks County Technical High School Education Association initially proposed a five-year deal.
A two-year pact, to be effective July 1, would give the two sides enough time to determine the direction of the economy, McGrath said in the report.
The fact-finder also suggested a 2.5 percent salary increase for teachers who earn credit for additional educational courses. McGrath suggested no pay increases for cost of living or years of service for each year of the deal.
If the board agrees to the arrangement, the starting salary for a union member would be $42,997 in 2010-2011, said Sharon Rendeiro. She's the business administrator at the comprehensive tech school that serves the Bensalem, Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts. The top salary would be $92,872 for union members with a masters' equivalency plus 30 credits, she said.
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McGrath suggested union members pay more toward their health insurance.
The fact-finder also gave his opinion on a variety of other issues, ranging from union members having to clock in when they arrive to giving special education teachers more preparation time.
The complete report is posted on the state's labor and industry department's website.
The union, representing 120 technical and academic teachers, guidance counselors, a school nurse, a psychologist and a librarian, accepted McGrath's report shortly after it was released in May.
The joint board hasn't met as a whole since mid-May, around the time the non-binding recommendations were issued. Given the inaction, the state has declared that the joint board has rejected the report.
The joint board will decide whether or not to accept the report at its Monday night meeting, school officials said.
June 27, 2010 02:21 AM
