HEADING BACK TO IMPASSE...

To say these negotiations have been the most difficult in several years would be an understatement.

Your SAAAAC Team shows up prepared and ready to engage in the bargaining process. We were prepared to present our proposals and most importantly, we were prepared to make counter proposals to BOE proposals/offers. I wish we could say the same about our BOE counterparts. When we make a proposal or offer, Melisa Rawles (AACPS Chief Negotiator) must wait until the next scheduled session to address the proposal. WHY? She has to return to Riva Road and get permission from Dr. Arlotto and others at the AACPS before addressing the actual (appointed and elected) members of the AACPS BOE. For which she then returns and informs use that "the BOE does not believe the proposal is in the best interest of AACPS". This is her consistent and constant "canned" response to each and everything we have brought forth in this bargaining cycle. We are of the opinion that Rawles does not have the authority to bargain on behalf of the AACPS BOE. We don't actually know who the authoritative figure is but we wish he or she would join us at the bargaining table.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN BARGAINING?

  • To view items that we have tentatively agreed to, CLICK HERE. You will notice that all of the items that have been tentatively agreed to are BOE Proposals. Not one signal item that SAAAAC has proposed has been agreed to by the BOE. You will also note that the items are administrative in nature and don't have an real impact on your hourly rate of pay/salary, benefits or daily working conditions.

  • To view items that SAAAAC has proposed and remain on the bargaining table, CLICK HERE. You will notice that these items do have a direct impact on your hourly rate of pay/salary, benefits or daily working conditions. Rawles (on behalf of the AACPS BOE) has rejected every one of them. She has refused to engage in the negotiations process by offering a single counter offer to any of items, except Use of Leave in Hourly Increments which she attempted to tie to other BOE proposals (take backs) and asked us to withdraw all remaining items proposed by SAAAAC including our Compensation Proposal. I will address a matter currently before the MD Labor Board regarding the "negotiability" of TA hours in a separate email.

  • To view items that the BOE has proposed and remain on the bargaining table, CLICK HERE. You will notice that all are "take backs"! She (and the AACPS BOE) want to reduce your ability to utilize Religious Observance leave. She (and the AACPS BOE) want to reduce the number of Supplemental Retirement Plan vendors from 2 to 1. On May 29, Rawles attempted to insert a new proposal eliminating language from the current FMLA clause of the contract. Her attempt was in violation of our agreed upon ground rules which stated that all initial proposals were to be presented no later than February 27, 2019. Her attempt to insert this new proposal was based on an email exchange (click here) in which she wanted SAAAAC to acknowledge an "Advisory Opinion Letter " from the U.S. Dept. of Labor as a change in law or regulation. I presented Rawles with "case law" (something she likes to mention quite often but never presents any) regarding the fact that opinion letters do not constitute a change in law or regulation. I received no response from Rawles. Her next attempt was to insert it into negotiations since we didn't voluntarily agree with her. We believe this is BAD FAITH BARGAINING by attempting to insert a new proposal after the agreed upon cut off date. Lastly, she and the AACPS BOE refuse to negotiated around the subject of compensation. The only proposal they are willing to entertain is there own which does not vary one iota from the budget amendment that the BOE passed several months ago. Throughout the BOE Meeting that night, the words "subject to negotiations" was used over and over and over again but as of today, it seems to have only been lip service. The attitude is clearly... Take what we give you and be happy!


WHAT'S GOING ON?

A "reliable source" has informed us that it has been said the Unit IV employees are "getting too strong". The source informed us that the discussion that he/she overheard centered around too many Unit IV employees (specifically SAAAAC members) are demanding to take breaks and lunches. Too many Unit IV employees (specifically SAAAAC members) are asking for representation and filing grievances. Too many Unit IV employees (specifically SAAAAC members) are asking for comp time. Too many Unit IV employees are expecting salary increases at a rate equal to other bargaining units. Our source says those involved in the conversation said they missed the "old days" when Unit IV employees are too scared to speak up, took what ever they were offered at the bargaining table and did whatever their Immediate Supervisors told them. SORRY... Those days are long gone.

With the assistance of MSEA Chief Legal Counsel, we are preparing the filing to declare impasse with the MD Labor Board.