Teachers oppose outsourcing and mediator requested for negotiations
Teachers rallied against outsourcing William Allen Middle School night custodians, boiling down to issues with the impasse contract negotiations.
A sea of red filled WAMS’s auditorium at the Board of Education’s meeting on Tuesday night, as teachers gathered wearing red Moorestown Education Association shirts in opposition of outsourcing night custodians and wanting answers regarding contracts.
According to board member Kevin O’Sullivan, MEA requested a mediator for negotiation in the beginning of May. O’Sullivan said the school district wants to establish a “fair and financially sustainable contract for the district.”
Union members and the board have met several times over the last few months in an attempt to settle contracts that will expire June 30.
But union members had other reasons for a mediator’s request.
“The MEA did file for mediation when it became clear the board was moving us further apart and not closer together,” teacher Heather Trapani said.
According to Trapani, two meetings were scheduled in May and the MEA was willing to continually meet with the board as they waited for remediation to begin.
“The board cancelled both May meetings and has chosen to not to continue negotiating,” she said.
No new meetings have been scheduled, but the plan is to try to come to an agreement by Sept. 1, she said.
After the board of education approved an increase in the 2013–2014 budget, there was a lingering concern the school district would not be able to pay for future supplies or even staffing.
Middle school teacher Pamela Keller said the board should not treat the school district like a business, saying they have outsourced their control of who works in the buildings.
When outsourcing WAMS night custodial staff appeared on the agenda, teachers protested the board’s consideration of bringing ABM, a janitorial service company, to replace night custodians at WAMS.
Many teachers who stepped up to the microphone said there is not only a safety issue surrounding outsourced custodians, the work the company would be paid for might not be up to par with that of the current staff.
“Put safety and quality first,” Trapani said.
According to Trapani, formal complaints surrounding missing items, uncleanliness and other issues were filed about the ABM custodial service.
According to board president Don Mishler, the school district outsources for other services such as bus drivers and lunch staff. The district is attempting to save money in areas that would not greatly affect the students.
As for the list of complaints presented at the meeting, Mishler said it isn’t the first time theses issues were presented, but they were not left untouched.
“We have been able to manage this list. It’s not without its issue, but we believe it has been successful in what we were looking to achieve and that’s cost savings,” Mishler said, adding issues would arise in any situation and it’s the districts job to handle those issues accordingly.
The concern remained that while the school district is searching for cost-effective solutions for staffing, many union members say that prolonging negotiations is not reasonable and they are willing to settle without mediation.
“We are ready to negotiate and settle. We do not need to wait for mediation. We will continue to work while we wait,” Trapani said.
After executive session, the board did not make a final decision on the contract bids for ABM. Mishler said the board would meet again in the near future to discuss the bids before making a final decision.
Mishler was unable to comment about negotiations. He said he is not involved in the discussions because his wife is a teacher in another district.
