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PITTSBURGH  FEDERATION  OF  TEACHERS

PFT Update to Members --- Friday, August 24, 2007

Negotiations Continue/Noneconomic and Economic Issues on Table

      The PFT and the School District continue in difficult negotiations for successor agreements for the Professional, Paraprofessional, and Technical-Clerical Employee units. Status Quo is in place for the members of these PFT-represented units, as negotiations have continued since the expiration of the previous contracts on June 30, 2007. (See the reverse side of this page for Questions and Answers about Status Quo.)

      Union and district representatives most recently met on August 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. Several district representatives participated in a number of the negotiations sessions, including Superintendent Mark Roosevelt, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane, Chief Financial Officer Chris Berdnik, as well as other central and school based administrators. Attorney Mike Palombo and Executive Director of Human Resources Jody Spolar head the district negotiations team, along with Board Member Theresa Colaizzi, who chairs the Board’s negotiations committee.

      Extensive discussion has taken place relative to fiscal matters as well as working conditions issues. Both sides have introduced proposals related to staffing of schools, medical insurance, and compensation. Additionally, each side has introduced proposals reflecting concerns of its respective constituency. The parties have not reached agreement on substantive economic and noneconomic issues.

      Negotiations will resume on Monday, August 27th.

      The PFT negotiations team members include Rufus Jordan, Mary VanHorn, George Gensure, Sylvia Wilson, Nina Esposito-Visgitis, and attorney Steve Jordan. Additionally, national AFT Director of Research Jewell Gould has provided exceptional service to our local in terms of budget analysis and interpretation. He also participated in negotiations sessions here this past week. I want to assure all PFT members that the union negotiators are advocating forcefully for the economic and noneconomic interests of our members.

      PFT members should also be assured that their participation in important decisions related to the collective bargaining process continues to be recognized as absolutely vital by the PFT negotiating team and Executive Board. We are committed to informing our membership as fully as possible during these challenging negotiations.

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      The PFT also remains fully determined to restore our colleagues who have been furloughed. Staff members, especially Sylvia Wilson, have worked very hard, with school district representatives, to see the current number of professional furloughs be reduced from 42 to 9 and the number of paraprofessional furloughs reduced from 34 to 21. We continue to strive for zero as the only acceptable number of furloughs.

      As the 2007-08 school year begins, on behalf of the PFT Executive Board, I thank you for the outstanding efforts you have and will put forth on behalf of the students in our district, as well as for your continued support as we encounter challenges and decisions as members of the PFT.

In solidarity,

John Tarka, PFT President

Click here for the Questions and Answers Regarding the Status Quo

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