Our bargaining session on the 22nd resulted in some positive movement toward a resolution of the language of our contract.  It is by no means final, and we anticipate some continued disagreement, but are hopeful that major issues can be resolved and brought forward for ratification.  It should be noted that an inability to agree on an issue will result in unchanged contract language.

Our compensation offer was countered.  Your site representative delivered the specifics of this at your 10 minute meeting.  We gave no official response to the counter proposal at the table and requested that site reps confer with members to solicit their responses.  We are still waiting to hear from some but the overall impression is negative toward the District's offer.  Unless we hear otherwise from those yet to report, we will proceed accordingly.  Please confer with your rep if you have not already done so.  

As always, we strive to represent your interests to the very best of our ability.  When an agreement is brought before you for ratification, it should be understood that this is the best package your team was able to obtain.  Members are encouraged to make decisions about this according to their conscience.  

We look forward to positive results at our next session on May 7th.  Thank you for your unwavering support.

On behalf of your team,

Mike Williams
Negotiations Chair

Many members have noticed that the District has posted a "draft" calendar on the MUSD website.  This is the calendar that has been proposed for resolution by the MTA.  We were told that our families were anxious to have a general sense of start, vacation, and end dates.  Regardless of the final adopted calendar, these dates as shown on the "draft" should see only minor changes, if any.  Thus, the District's decision to post the "draft" met with no objection from your Team.


As stated in a previous post, your Team has resisted bringing the calendar forward for a vote until we were able to obtain some assurances regarding the potential changes to our contract article 11 (Hours) resulting from adoption of this "draft".  We are very close to those assurances.  It should be noted that the "draft" indicates a shorter student day on Wednesday as opposed to our current reduced Friday.  This proposal also shows that day reduced to a true minimum day.  Your team has been working to ensure that the intent of this additional time is to serve the needs of our students and that the value of our voices in decisions about the use of this time be recognized. 

Some have asked why your Team has even considered such a change to the early release day.  Frankly, it is because we were asked to consider it.  Rather than give an outright rejection, we insisted that members be offered the opportunity to voice their opinions.  This was accomplished via a survey in December.  The results of the survey revealed a virtual 50/50 response to the prospect of changing the early release day.  While insisting that the survey was not an indicator of assent, we did agree to bring this calendar before the membership for a ratification vote.  We expect that vote to be soon.  Make your opinions known via the ballot.

We also met on Tuesday, April 7 for bargaining discussions.  Much of this time was spent negotiating the concerns addressed above.  No progress was made on compensation but the MTA's proposal remains on the table.  We continue to consider this a fair and responsible offer and intend to bargain accordingly.  We meet again on April 22.  On behalf of your Team, I thank your for you patience and support.

Mike Williams
Negotiations Chair