Schools
Mahwah Teachers Rally As Contract Negotiations Drag On
Health Care costs are preventing the union and Board of Education from reaching an agreement.
MAHWAH, N.J. – Contract negotiations between the Board of Education and the Mahwah Education Association continue to drag on.
A group of MEA members rallied at Veterans Park Monday afternoon. They claim that how much they contribute to their health benefits is increasing and that they haven’t had a new contract in about nine months.
“The board says we’ve been doing an excellent job and we agree, but we haven’t seen them respond in kind,” said Bill Howe, vice president of the MEA who teaches math and science at Joyce Kilmer School. “We’re finding tremendous reluctance on the board’s side.”
Find out what's happening in Mahwahfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
MEA employees contribute 25 percent towards their healthcare premiums.
Charles T. Saldarini, the board’s first vice president and chairman of the board’s negotiations committee, said that the board has offered financial incentives and educational assistance to help employees reduce their health insurance costs.
Find out what's happening in Mahwahfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Healthcare insurance remains a difficult matter given annual double digit cost increases,” Saldarini said. “Our position is that cost-sharing remain consistent with the premium contribution levels stipulated by the state statute for all public employees.”
In July, the board offered what Saldarini calls a “highly competitive contract” with pay raises of 2.75, 2.9, and 2.9 percent, respectively, over a three-year period. The increases would be retroactive.
The board recently concluded agreements with the district’s principals and supervisors.
The terms and conditions of the last MEA contract remain in place.
“The board has absolutely no reluctance to complete a positive, mutually acceptable new contract with our teachers,” said Saldarini.
The negotiating committee held a work session March 31 and agreed to perform additional analysis as part of the process.
“It is our hope we may find more common ground as a result,” Saldarini said.
Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Sign up for Patch N.J. email newsletters here.
Photo: Members of the Mahwah Education Association holding up signs at Veterans Park/Courtesy of the Mahwah Edcuation Association
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
