Wissahickon Holds Fact Finding Hearing for WEA Negotiations

The Wissahickon Education Alliance support staff contracts are currently under negotiations, and the WEA has filed for Fact Finding. presented the procedures of the fact finding at Monday night’s Board meeting.

Wolpert told the board that negotiations for the support staff began on January 6 for 267 WEA members and approximately 30 hourly positions. The past two contracts have been three-year contracts and Wolpert said he expects another three-year contract to be negotiated.

The fact finding hearing, which considers the issues that are in dispute between the two parties, was held on May 10. The hearing is not open to the public.

A confidential report is filed and both sides have the opportunity to accept or reject the report as a whole. If accepted the findings are a binding piece of the contract.

However, if either party or both parties reject the report, there is a reconsideration period. If both parties still reject the report, the negotiations will continue. The report will also be published on the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board website if rejected by either party.

During the consideration periods, both sides can continue to negotiate in good faith.

Wolpert said the process is confidential until and unless the report is published by the Labor Relations Board.

The WEA support staff contract expires July 1, 2012.