Union accuses Ypsilanti school district of unfair labor practices
The Ypsilanti Education Association has accused the Ypsilanti school district of unfair labor practices in a complaint filed with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.
Kelly Powers, president of the union representing Ypsilanti's teachers, alleges a comment from a labor attorney representing the district in negotiations makes it clear the district is attempting to impose a 3-percent pay cut on the union.
Union president Kelly Powers
At last Monday’s board meeting, Powers lambasted the administration for bringing the lawyer to the table, a tactic she called confrontational and which she said “sets an unpleasant tone.”
She also said the lawyer, Ray Davis of the Thrun Law Firm, told union negotiators straightaway in their first meeting that he is there to put the two sides “on a path to impasse.” Powers said that in the 10 years she has sat at negotiating tables, a lawyer has never been present.
“They weren’t there to collaborate - they are there to do what they wanted to do,” Powers said. “Instead of negotiating whatever offer they are sticking out there, they are trying to impose what they want on us.”
Superintendent Dedrick Martin said Powers took the lawyer's quote out of context and that Davis is there to help the district with tough negotiations.
He added that other unions have made similar concessions and the he believes the YEA has been in a “holding pattern," and bargaining with it required a new approach.
“We decided to go with an attorney who has a track record of helping districts settle difficult negotiations,” he said. “He made it clear that it is the intent of the district to work to come to an agreement, but he also made it clear the district is not in a position to meet some of the demands and options thrown out by the other bargaining unit.”
Powers and Martin both said the district is asking teachers to take a 3-percent pay cut, but Powers said the YEA has presented a three-year buyout plan that would save the district more money.
She said a Michigan Education Association financial expert estimated the plan could save the district about $1 million initially, and would mean teachers who are making upwards of $60,000 would be retiring, thereby avoiding layoffs of those earning roughly $30,000.
Superintendent Dedrick Martin
“A buyout could have us right where we are two or three years down the road,” he said.
Powers questioned how the district could afford a lawyer while attempting to trim $6.4 million from its budget. Martin said the attorney has only been to one meeting. and the district hasn’t yet spent any money on contractual negotiations. He added that it is no different than the union bringing in a specialist from the MEA as its chief negotiator.
“We are bringing in an attorney to help navigate a potentially very difficult contractual negotiation,” he said.
Martin said he did not know the lawyer’s hourly rate.
Martin said the district has not yet received notice of the unfair labor practice complaint. Should the district and union be unable to come to an agreement on the contract, the unfair labor practice claim would be settled in court.
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
walker101
Wed, Feb 17, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.
Who's working for who, the want the same power as as the school district. They want to call the shots, maybe the union presidents needs to take a 3% pay cut.
CountyKate
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 : 2:43 p.m.
@E, I believe the YEA has a professional negotiator only a phone call away, because the MEA has those on staff. But, why would the union want to speed the process, since the teachers remain at their old rate of pay if a new contract isn't finalized. The longer they can drag this out, the better for them - which is another reason for filing an unfair labor practices complaint, come to think of it. Every day they delay, the district has to fork over the higher amount.
Forest City
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 : 12:31 p.m.
The YEA better be careful they don't strangle the golden goose. Why does the teacher's union feel they should feel no effect of the economic meltdown? With the foreclosures, job losses and pay cuts that the community is experiencing, we simply don't have the money to maintain their generous salaries, benefits and pensions.
E
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.
In the business sector it always makes sense to "hire your weakness." The Board has done exactly that in hiring a professional negotiator (who happens to be an attorney). Most school boards are made up of people from all walks of life. It would only be a coincidence if an elected board member had professional negotiating skills. The YEA could speed the process forward by hiring a professional negotiator, rather than relying on their professional school teacher president to attempt to get to a satisfactory solution to this complicated matter.
CountyKate
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.
Ypsi_flower, you are right about the steps the YPS administration has already taken. And districts all over Washtenaw County have seen the same sacrifices in pay from both administrators and teachers. So, why is the YEA dragging its feet and postponing negotiations? Does the YEA leadership really think the reality will change? Do they really believe they won't have to make sacrifices, too? Also, I'd like to know why Ms. Powers has chosen to take these negotiations into the public arena. My personal opinion is that she thinks YPS parents are angry enough about the possible school closings to see things as being all black and white and blame the Board of Education for this impasse, too. Frankly, I see the labor complaint and this story as a manipulative ploy by Ms. Powers and it makes me think less of the YEA. Which is too bad, because I respect teachers a great deal. This is a time when management and labor should be working cooperatively both within the district and with other districts to bring pressure on the legislature to make education a state priority. Instead, we have this "I only care about what's in it for me" divisiveness from the union. Kelly, you've lost touch with the community in which you teach.
Delete Please
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.
I'm just putting 2 and 2 together. Chapelle and Adams closed, left vacant for a while, and then........... their buildings reopen as for-profit charters.
missypsi
Tue, Feb 16, 2010 : 8:13 a.m.
What no one is talking about is the way that the threat of closing schools is being utilized as a political football in all of this. In the meantime, a perfectly good school system is receiving a lot of negative publicity (in a time during which they need to be courting enrollments like crazy). Both the administration and the union have forgotten that such threats can give the impression of a failing district and drive parents away, worsening our problems. There is no question that school consolidation is a way to "rationalize" the educational delivery system, and to MAXIMIZE student/teacher ratios. In other words, fewer schools means more classrooms per school (no art or music classrooms), and more students per teacher. If the district doesn't think this means a bigger enrollment drop off than they already projected, and the union thinks this doesn't mean MORE layoffs than they expected, then both parties in this death match are living in a dreamland. In the meantime, parents and children in this district, MANY of whom did vote to increase their taxes to pay for the sustenance of the schools, are the ones who will suffer.
treetowncartel
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 5:26 p.m.
The problem with pay cuts is that those close to retirment but not yet there will suffer a reduced pension. Teacher pensions are handled by the stae and the formula for those pensions is controlled at the state level too. It is certainly a compromising position for everyone involved. One thing to consider is that reducing things across the board will result in a reduction of quality individulas that want to go enter the profession. Yes, as in any line of work there are those that don't pull their weight. However, punishing everyone based on that perception is not right.
Delete Please
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 5:03 p.m.
Let's be careful not to punish our teachers for what is the responsibility of presidents, legislators, and--though I'm not a socialist--advanced, unchecked capitalism. The working class should not be responsible for fiscal mismanagement at higher levels. If the Ypsilanti central office will take a self-imposed pay cut, and second, agree to push the pause button school closures, then maybe the YEA will agree to at least come to the table to help with the process of brainstorming.
Good2catchu
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 4:46 p.m.
Its not complicated number of expected school children, 95% class sizes gives the number of teachers required. Allow early retirement and buyouts reducing teaching staff; renegotiate teachers pay starting next year no need for any pay cuts just pay freeze until everything catches up. Sadly teachers benefits are going to be reduced which will amount to 6% or more pay cuts. Finally along with the class sizes fill the schools to 90% plus and close the rest. Job done Thank you.
ScottyBoy
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 4:15 p.m.
If the MEA thinks that it will save Ypsilanti Schools money and the District does not agree, why not have an independent source verify the plan. It's most prudent for everyone to wait until the state sets its budget.
TXteacher
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 3:10 p.m.
"Hiring all those $30,000 a year teachers to replace those retiring $60,000 a year teachers". In education, like life, you get what you pay for. This case will be no different.
Ypsi by Choice
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
Ypsilanti Public Schools will host a Public Forum on Budget Reductions, 7 p. m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 in the Ypsilanti High School auditorium, 2095 Packard Rd. This is an opportunity for the community to provide the board of education with feedback on proposed changes. Detail...s: (734) 714-1218. Emma L. Jackson, Public Relations Director Ypsilanti Public Schools "Strong From Start to Finish" (734) 714-1202
Ypsi_flower
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.
I have been monitoring the Ypsilanti deficit situation closely as my family has a long way to go in the public school system. In this situation, I have seen everyone EXCEPT the YEA make an effort to resolve our deficit for the best interest of the children. I've seen the administration put a lot of work into projecting new numbers should we be forced to close schools. I've seen the administration take a voluntary cut. I've seen the support staff reduced to groveling to keep their pensions and healthcare. I've seen childrn crying over their teachers being pulled from their school, and having to go into a new classroom six months into the year. And, I've seen the trustees listen and try to assimilate all this information into a palatable resolution. Having listened to all parties at the recent YSPD meetings, I would be ashamed to have such representation speaking to the public at this point in time. Have you no shame!
Woman in Ypsilanti
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 1:13 p.m.
How come when there are negotiations like this, people always assume that it is the union that is being greedy? It is pretty normal that parents and administrators want to have highly education people and small classrooms at a low cost but it is interesting to me that their greed isn't lambasted in the same way that unionized teachers are. All the union does is give the teachers the same amount of power the administration has. I am sorry but when you have a situation with one customer and a lot of sellers, the sellers are at a disadvantage unless they can somehow band together. Then you have one customer and all the sellers are acting as one so you have a more balanced one customer/one seller situation. I don't understand why so many people think this is such a bad thing. So I say, go ahead and lay off the younger teachers and pack existing classrooms to the max. But you won't get me to blame the unions for that. I'll blame the taxpayers for not supporting quality education and the school boards for any wasteful spending that might be going on.
snapshot
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 12:55 p.m.
Here we go again with the "buyouts" being a cost saver for the schools. Powers is out to protect all the fat cat union members to get the best compensation package as possible. To heck with the kids, the taxpayers, and the school districts long term fiscal viability. A typical union "take the money and run" strategy. Typical tough guy union tactics to go on the offensive and start yelling foul and using every legal avenue they can to bully the administration and taxpayers into undeserved concessions. It's getting really old. I say congrats to Martin for standing his ground. I say the adminsistration has the upper hand. You have no money! Taxpayers are tired of giving the unions what amounts to taxpayer funded welfare packages. What about the taxpayers welfare? I say we make unions work for their money from now on. No more free ride at taxpayer and consumer expense. Definitely no buyouts. Lay off the younger teachers if you have to. Fill those senior teacher classrooms to overflow conditions. Get the parents educated that it's a result of the unions greed. Get those parents involved because it's their money and their children the unions are putting at risk with their insatiable greed. Start playing hardball Mr. Martin. Maybe go to the table with a bankruptcy filing. Put the school district under a receivership and blame it on the uncooperative attitude of the union and Ms. Power's stall tactics. Make the negotiations public, after all, the taxpayer is paying the bill. The unions have been at war with the taxpayer and consumers for years. Holding taxpayers and consumers hostage with their influence and power while telling us it's for "our own good". Well that hasn't worked out for most of us. It's time to fight back using every legal means at your disposal Mr. Martin. Do it for the public school system, the taxpayer, the parents, and the children. You have my support.
Pete Bigelow
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.
A comment has been removed from this thread because it contained personal attacks.
Susie Q
Mon, Feb 15, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
Most public school employee groups will resist accepting concessions until they know what the state of Michigan will impose on them. Between Granholm, Dillon and Bishop, there are 3 different plans to cut pay, benefits, retirement, etc. The folks in Lansing MUST make the decisions in a timely fashion so that the local school districts can move ahead with their budget planning.