Washington Teachers, BOE Continue Negotiations

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Contract negotiations are still underway between the Washington Township Education Association and the Washington Township Board of Education, WTEA officials told Patch.

The effort to settle on a new contract has entered the fact finding phase, WTEA president Patti Ressland told Patch. "At this point, we are currently at fact finding and working to set a date for the first meeting with the fact finder," Ressland said.

Messages to the Board of Education were not returned by press time. On June 19, the Board issued a statement saying negotiations had stalled despite a third medication session with a state-appointed mediator.

Teachers in the K-8 district have been working without a contract since July 1, 2017, Observer Tribune reported.

Some sticking points are healthcare contributions, raises, the waiver amount paid to employees who don't take insurance, and the addition of another non-instructional day. (You can read the Board's full statement here.) The Board has said teachers must pay more into their healthcare to continue providing educational programs, while the teachers union has said it's not fair to expect them to take home less pay for the same work.

Fact finding is a step typically taken when negotiations stall between two parties. The fact finder is an impartial third party who will take a look at the situation and make a non-binding recommendation.

This is not the first time the two sides have had a hard time settling on a contract. The previous contract took over a year to negotiate.

• Read More: New Washington Twp. Teacher Contract Has Three Years of 2.5% Pay Raises

Image via Shutterstock