West Morris High School Teachers Reject Arbitrator's Contract Proposal

The end is not in sight.

What’s worse, no one can say how much longer the saga will go on.

An independent fact-finder’s report that analyzed contract negotiations and terms between the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education and the Teacher’s Association in West Morris Central and Mendham High Schools, which was approved unanimously by the nine-member governing body, has been rejected by the union.

The full report composed over several months by the arbitrator, which can be found online here, analyzes starting salary in the district, annual raises over a three-year period, and cost for prescription medicines as its most major components.

The board approved the report’s findings in mid-June, and the union was given 20 days to accept or reject the same findings.

A meeting was held by the union on Monday, June 29, and teachers were given 24 hours to vote. A majority of the 240-member association chose to reject the proposal.

The fact finder’s synopsis, which can also be seen here, shows three significant recommendations, including:

Salary increases:

• A 2.25% salary increase for the 2013-14 year (county average was 2.05%)
• A 2.35% salary increase for the 2014-15 year (county average was 2.16%)
• A 2.45% salary increase for the 2015-16 year (county average was 2.22%)
• A 2.40% salary increase for the 2016-17 year (proposed by arbitrator, but a fourth year was not included in either the board’s or the union’s proposals)

Slight increase in prescription co-pay

Increase of a starting salary from $47,535 to $50,170

According to the report, in the final year of the current contract, 2012-13, the West Morris Regional Education Association ranked highest in Morris County for average salary.

Board president Gary Lakritz told Patch Tuesday the board knew the starting salary needed to come up and was fine with the recommendation to increase Step 1 pay by $2,635, making the district more competitive.

The arbitrator’s report noted that the district was among the lowest in starting salary both among its county peers and district factor group peers, but among the highest in overall salaries in both groups.

“The board is very disappointed about the Education Association rejecting the proposal,” Lakritz said. “We’re more than ready to settle.”

John Williams, the New Jersey Education Association field representative speaking on behalf of the West Morris Regional Education Association could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

“The Board has shown that its proposals are the more fair and appropriate,” the arbitrator said. “Salary increases in line with other district and a modest change in health insurance are clearly the appropriate settlement.”

As the end of the 2014-15 school year came to a close, the teacher’s association announced it would be pulling back on additional add for students that was not contractually obligated, and recommendation letters for college-bound pupils would not be written until the start of the new school year.

Both sides will now enter into what is called super conciliation and must agree to hiring a super conciliator through the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).

With the new steps, it is unlikely there will be a contract in place before the start of the new school year - the third consecutive calendar year.

“While I don’t anticipate either side being totally happy with these recommendations as each side has become entrenched in its last settlement,” the arbitrator’s report concluded. “I do believe that they make a reasonable, affordable, and workable package. I believe that they are responsive to the Board’s budget situation and its goals as well as maintaining the staff in an overall competitive position and responding to the Association’s goals.”

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13 at 7 p.m. at West Morris Central High School.