Teachers: 'Board Gave Us An Hour' To Rescind Strike Vote

The Hinsdale High School Teachers Association claims that bargaining team members were given an hour to decide whether or not to rescind a strike authorization vote in exchange for the school board’s assurance to forego its right to a union lockout.

Both sides have been meeting with a federal mediator to negotiate a new contract for the professional educators at Hinsdale Central and South High Schools. The high school teachers authorized a strike vote before their contract expired at the end of June.

Dist. 86 board vice president Ed Corcoran said mention of the lockout was made during Tuesday’s bargaining session out of concern for the community’s anxiety caused by an overhanging strike threat.

“We had to get on the phone with legal counsel. They weren’t able to get back to us,” said Mike Palmquist, a Hinsdale Central English teacher and spokesman for the teachers’ association. “After an hour, the board’s offer expired.”

Palmquist called the board’s move to give up its right to a teacher lockout a “publicity stunt.” Teachers previously stated that they would start the school year as planned on August 22, regardless of the ongoing contract negotiations.

“It was completely disingenuous,” Palmquist said. “We wanted to make sure we were making the right decision knowing the full ramifications. You can’t do that in an hour.”

The sticking point at Tuesday’s bargaining session circled back to the board’s counteroffer on teachers’ health premiums, which the teachers’ association purports is worse than previous offers.

The board’s proposal includes three health insurance plans, including a PPO, HMO and HSA. Total charges for full spouse and family coverage under the PPO would increase from $181 per month under the old contract, to a monthly premium of $500 under the new plan.

Premiums under the HMO and HSA plans would amount to $150 per month for full spouse and family coverage. Employees would pay nothing for individual or family coverage without spouses, according to details provided in a board email.

The board also agreed to “phase in” the spousal surcharge over three years, by lowering the full cost the first year to $600.

Palmquist said for employees to stay with the PPO, the actual loss of annual salary is $3,690, although under the two other plans there would be small net increases in pay.

“The spousal surcharge is $200 [per month] no matter which plan you choose,” Palmquist said. “Skoda has not made the argument that we should increase our healthcare costs by 229-percent. It’s a nice political argument but not good in elements. It’s a huge hit for spouses.”

The board has also proposed eliminating STEP and LANE increases, in which teachers’ salaries increase annually based on years’ served and level of education completed. To assuage teachers’ concerns of keeping the district competitive with others, the board has proposed annual stipends ranging between $3,000 and $4,000.

A new teacher obtaining his or her first master’s degree in their subject area would receive a $2,000 stipend, with the potential to grow to $4,000 instead of $3,000 in a previous board offer.

Palmquist termed the board’s stipend proposal as a “pay freeze,” especially for younger, less experienced teachers, because it wouldn’t get added to the annual salary or be part of any future raises.

“If you’re going to freeze in inflation-adjusted dollars, who would want to come here,” he said.

D86 board president Dr. Richard Skoda denied teachers’ charges of regressive bargaining, stating that the board did not violate mediator rules.

“All I can say is that it did not happen as [the teachers’ association] has charged,” Skoda said via email. “We are open to collaborate on important matters at anytime. Have Mr. Palmquist give us a call. We remain committed to making Hinsdale 86 a strike free zone.”

The next bargaining session is scheduled for August 12.