NFT is 'Hopeful' Negotiation Session Can Help Avoid Strike

Members and leaders of the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers are "hopeful" that a "significant" shift in the district's "take it or leave it" approach at Thursday's negotiation session could help avoid .

“We understand the frustration and anger that some parents and students have expressed—because we feel the same way,” NFT President Louise Boyd said in a union-issued press release.

“But everyone must understand that a second strike won’t be necessary if the district comes to the bargaining table tomorrow with a real commitment to achieving agreement."

According to the press release, the NFT leaders point to the union members’ recent as "further evidence that teachers have demonstrated their willingness to make concessions, while the school board so far has refused to move."

Boyd said that the board doesn't need to give the teachers everything they want in order to avoid a strik, but they do "need to be willing to bargain in good faith and honestly seek a fair solution if they want to keep teachers off the picket lines and in our classrooms next week.”

Boyd also said that the district officials' public statements have left members of the community "misinformed" on the issues that are keeping the two sides apart.

“First and foremost, it’s not all about money,” Boyd said.

“Yes, money is an issue but it’s not the only issue. Most people don’t even know that the district is trying to increase class size by two, three, even four students depending on the class. That will have a direct impact on the quality of education and level of attention students receive in the classroom, while it also will increase the workload of teachers.

“And few are aware that the district not only wants to increase the length of our work day,” Boyd said, “they also want to add more work days to the school year. In total, that adds up to more than three weeks of additional work – with no additional compensation,” Boyd continued.

The NFT has also taken issue with school board members and others' frequent pronouncements about teacher salaries.

“The district keeps fabricating stories that we’re the highest paid teachers in the state, which is totally untrue,” Boyd said. “In fact, Neshaminy teachers rank well behind many neighboring districts in Bucks County, much less the state.”

Boyd pointed out that teachers have already offered "substantial concessions" and have shown that they are committed to the work of reaching a deal.

“It’s not too late to avoid a strike if the district is willing to do the same,” she said.

“We’ve made nine major changes to our contract proposal, each time giving up more and more and more – but still the district says no. " 

Boyd said she remains hopeful for Thursday’s bargaining session. “We want to avoid a strike, and we will keep our members and our community informed of any progress. As I said last week, whether or not we strike is really in the district’s hands now.”